The difference between adding engraving and not adding engraving is the difference between the price of tens of millions and the price of millions. As long as they come across a bronze that can be engraved, few people will not be tempted.
Therefore, Chen Wenzhe is particularly concerned about this, and he is also afraid of capsizing in the gutter!
Of course, he was even more afraid that someone would carve something on the two large and small pots, that is, the copper cauldron.
The characteristic of the copper cauldrons of the Han Dynasty is their simplicity. It would be ridiculous if they were specially decorated with some complicated patterns.
There was an example when a sword of the King of Yue that was mistaken for gold and silver was discovered. Some counterfeiters engraved patterns on the plain sword and sold it as gold and silver. However, they were discovered due to poor skills and ended up making a fool of themselves.
To identify these altered or additionally engraved patterns, you can first compare them, or the surrounding surface, and whether the groundwork is consistent with other parts of the vessel.
Because if it is engraved later, it must have destroyed the original color of the surface.
Secondly, look for the joints of each set of patterns to see if there are pattern marks.
Because the patterns are engraved on the mold blocks and cast together, there is a possibility of forgery if there are no mold lines.
Furthermore, the forger was not sure about the pattern of Shang and Zhou bronzes.
For example, although decorative patterns are generally divided into ground patterns and main patterns, the two are actually closely related.
For example, the curled horns of the animal mask, or the end of the hooked tail, are often connected to the small circles of the ground pattern like concentric circles, but the forger often ignores this subtle feature.
After looking at the patterns and finding no problems, Chen Wenzhe finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At the very least, there are no low-level errors.
At this point, it’s time to look at the performance of the artifact as a whole.
To identify the authenticity of bronze ware, pay attention to weight, smell, sound and degree of rust color.
For example, bronze watches from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods are lighter and thinner than those from the Shang and Zhou dynasties. If the weight is the opposite, there is doubt.
Bronze vessels unearthed have an earthy smell, and fake vessels always emit a sour smell.
What is more important is the identification of the sound of copper and the identification of the rust color on the surface of the utensil.
Because Shang and Zhou bronzes are made of copper-tin alloy, the sound when struck is naturally clear and crisp. However, imitation bronzes are often made of brass or cast, and the sound when struck is turbid. If it is too thin, it will be brittle and fall apart.
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Some of the fake instruments are repaired, and the sound produced by the surroundings will be inconsistent. Those repaired with other materials will have a more hoarse feeling.
It is also important to observe the surface and rust layer of an ancient bronze, because when it is difficult to confirm its authenticity due to its shape or production process, you can determine whether it is genuine or fake by identifying the rust color on its surface.
This point is particularly important, because some modern counterfeiters are extremely sophisticated in their research on rust color.
Not to mention others, Chen Wenzhe can use several methods to make red spots and green embroidery that is difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake.
Therefore, he had to be careful, and he was also afraid of meeting a master like him, which would be tragic.
Of course, he can do it and he can also watch it.
As long as you are careful, you can still tell the difference between fake rust color and real rust color.
However, if you really encounter an extremely high imitation, it will be very difficult to identify it.
Because bronzes have been buried in the soil for thousands of years, the patina will develop layer by layer, but the rust color of bronzes in different regions is not the same.
This is related to different groundwater quality and other organic matter corroding its surface and producing different chemical reactions.
For example, the rust layer on bronze vessels unearthed in Hui Province is gray-green;
The bronze wares unearthed from Nanhu have an emerald green rust layer and are so shiny that they are called "puddle" wares.
The bronzes unearthed in the Central Plains area have rich rust layers and varied rust colors, ranging from black and gray, to jujube red, to gray and green, to silvery white.
Therefore, experts call these rust layers respectively "black lacquered ancient", "jujube skin red", "green lacquered ancient", "mercury Qin", etc.
This rust layer is very hard. Even if you scratch it with a knife, only some rust spots will fall off, which is completely different from the rust layer of fake items.
There are many ways to create a fake rust layer. The fake ground is made of salt-fired sand, and the rust color is soaked in hydrochloric acid water, or copper sulfate is mixed with green pigment and ammonia.
However, the color of the new rust is monotonous, unlike the unearthed rust layer, which is rich and changeable and has a moist feeling.
Some of the antique bronzes seen on the market today are mostly pink-green in color and have a poor hand feel, that is, they feel sticky and falling off.
Some are black and shiny, like cooked pit ware, but there is no color or moist feeling on the surface of the ware.
There are only a few ways to make rust, and the easiest one is definitely "growing rust".
That is to mix various chemicals such as acids, alkalis, and salts with metal powder, apply them to the surface of the imitation, and then bury them in the soil to "plant" fake rust.
If you want to save some time, do "glue rust".
Use glue, rosin, bletilla striata pulp, varnish and other colloids to mix various mineral powders and pigments and apply them to the copperware.
Or remove the real rust from other antique bronzes, mix it into varnish or glue, and apply it to the imitation antique bronzes.
What is even more disgusting is to mix animal urine, feces or agricultural fertilizers with soil, smear it on the surface of the imitation and then bury it in the soil.
If you do this, it will definitely be easy to identify rust, but if you want to make money, you can't save trouble.
Therefore, someone developed "burning rust".
Melt the prepared mineral pigment on the surface of the copperware.
These melted pigments solidified on the surface of the copperware after cooling down.
This is stronger and more difficult to identify. Of course, this is for novices.
If you want to make a high imitation, you must use "electroplating rust".
Using a technology similar to metal surface plating in industry, the surface of copperware is plated with "mercury skin" or "black lacquer", and other leather shells.
This is considered high-tech, and ordinary people cannot do it, nor can they control the heat.
However, as long as the electroplating rust is made by experts, it is really difficult for ordinary people to distinguish it.
This is a rust-making method that is difficult to identify, and there is another method that is even more difficult to detect if it is done by an expert without the help of high-tech testing equipment.
This is "transplanting rust". This method of making rust is very simple, but it requires very high craftsmanship and most people cannot do it.
Transplanting rust is to transplant or inlay the rust on the antique bronze to the surface of the imitation, and then use the above-mentioned methods to combine the rust.
What Chen Wenzhe is most afraid of is actually electroplating rust and transplantation rust. As long as he doesn't encounter these two, it's easy to deal with.
It is also very easy to identify whether the rust stains are caused by corrosion.
The easiest way is to use the tip of a needle to prick the patina.
Antique patina is very hard and difficult to penetrate, while those fake rust made with glue are not only easy to penetrate, but when you let go, the needle will be caught in the fake rust and unable to fall out.
This method is also very effective in identifying repaired parts of ancient bronzes.
When identifying the rust of copperware, it is best to take some samples and burn them with a high-temperature hot needle, or burn the samples directly with fire.
Antique patina is generally not easy to burn. When the rust crystallizes at high temperatures, it will make a crackling sound.
Fake rust made with resin or glue will melt, burn, and smoke at high temperatures.
At this time, you can smell pungent odors such as various glues or burning plastic.