Although he did not see the Greek words discovered by Hugo, nor did he hit the 13-ton bronze bell that Quasimodo struck that shattered his eardrums, Notre Dame de Paris still gave Zhuang Rui a mysterious feeling.
.
After coming down from the bell tower, Zhuang Rui saw a sculpture stored in a glass cabinet. His face was slightly shocked. He looked at Qin Xuanbing and asked, "Xuanbing, what's going on with this statue?"
This sculpture shows the extremely sad scene of the Virgin Mary holding her dead son after Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross. The Virgin lowered her eyes and looked at Jesus in her arms with infinite sorrow. Her expression was very expressive. The marble was in the artist’s eyes.
The hand is given life.
What shocked Zhuang Rui was not the expressiveness of the sculpture, but the fact that the interior of the sculpture that Zhuang Rui saw through the glass contained extremely rich purple aura. If calculated according to time, this should be a
A work from the 14th-15th centuries.
Since Zhuang Rui began to pay attention to playing with antiques, he has always been exposed to domestic objects. Although he has seen foreign oil paintings and luxury goods when he was at Zhonghai Pawn Shop, there is no aura in those things, even if there is
, also some gem-like things.
This sculpture, which was 100% carved by manpower, is the first foreign artwork that Zhuang Rui has seen that contains aura. The intensity of the aura inside is not inferior to Zhuang Rui's "Dingguang Sword".
Zhuang Rui came out this time because he also wanted to know whether foreign "antique" artworks contained aura. Now Zhuang Rui knows that art does not respect national boundaries. The value of this sculpture will probably not be lower than his.
any collection.
"Zhuang Rui, you don't know this? This is the treasure of Notre Dame de Paris, Michelangelo's sculpture "Sorrow" when he was 25 years old..."
Qin Xuanbing was a little surprised by Zhuang Rui's question and smiled and said: "When this work came out, it caused a huge sensation. People didn't believe that such an outstanding work could be created by a young man who was only 25 years old.
For this reason, Michelangelo engraved his name on the belt on the chest of the Virgin in the statue. This was also the only signed work in his life..."
After listening to Qin Xuanbing's words, Zhuang Rui put his hand on the glass, wishing he could use a hammer to smash the glass open and carry away the sculpture inside. This is probably what the Eight-Nation Allied Forces did in Beijing back then.
Of course, I can only think about this. Those big-nosed French policemen may not understand Zhuang Rui's Chinese culture of being nonchalant.
After leaving Notre Dame de Paris, Qin Xuanbing took Zhuang Rui to the Guimet Museum in Paris. Qin Xuanbing had been here before and she knew there were many Chinese cultural relics here and thought Zhuang Rui would like it.
After each person spent six euros to enter the Guimet Museum, Zhuang Rui's face immediately turned ugly when he saw the first object hanging on the wall.
It was a picture of "Amitabha's Transformation of the Western Pure Land". Judging from the style, Zhuang Rui could recognize it at a glance. It was a product of China's Dunhuang Tang Dynasty. Next to it were "Samantabhadra Riding an Elephant" and "Puxian Bodhisattva Riding an Elephant".
"Statue of the Walking Monk" represents the masterpieces of Tang Dynasty art that influenced the Buddhist world.
Walking in this museum is like being in China. Almost all the collections are from China.
The jade sculpture "White Jade Tiger" placed under the glass cover, the tiger walks sideways on the clouds, with incised body lines, simple and smooth, full of momentum, masculine and mysterious. It is obviously a work from the Western Han Dynasty. If placed in China
If auctioned, the minimum value would be over 50 million.
As for the bronze vessel with double animal ears, a four-legged square seat, the top cover is missing, the mouth is decorated with a circle of looking back phoenix patterns, and the abdomen is composed of hooked thunder patterns, from Zhuang Rui's perspective, it should belong to the late Yin and Shang Dynasties.
The work is also a priceless treasure.
Qin Xuanbing, who was following Zhuang Rui, didn't know that Zhuang Rui was even more angry when he looked at these precious cultural relics. Those Buddha heads that were obviously removed with violence, the huge "Kangxi Nan" stored in glass and hanging on the wall.
Patrol Map", Zhuang Rui was heartbroken when he saw it.
Through the spiritual observation in his eyes, Zhuang Rui knew that all of these objects were real, and their origins, needless to say, were all stolen by these foreign devils who used guns and cannons to knock down China's national gate and appreciate their national treasures in foreign countries.
Zhuang Rui had an unspeakable feeling in his heart.
In fact, the objects here were not only robbed in the catastrophe, but also many were smuggled out of China by so-called adventurers who took advantage of China's civil strife and its low prices.
Just like that idiot Wang Taoist in Dunhuang back then, just to get a mere four pieces of horseshoe silver, totaling 200 taels of silver, he sold 24 boxes of scriptures and 5 boxes of Buddhist paintings to Stein, a British Hungarian, and left behind
Only the barren Mogao Grottoes murals remain.
Seeing some Chinese tourists in the museum making a fuss and pointing out things that belonged to their own country, Zhuang Rui even found out in his heart the eighteen generations of braided ancestors of the Qing Dynasty who had committed crimes back then and scolded them.
"Don't watch it, it's boring..."
Zhuang Rui was a little uninterested. Compared to many of China's precious cultural relics being displayed in foreign museums for people to visit, Zhuang Rui hoped that foreign artworks could be placed in Chinese museums.
It's just that although China is much more developed than before, its comprehensive national strength is still not good enough. If it could flex its muscles as often as the United States does, perhaps the so-called "Eight-Nation Allied Forces" at that time would obediently and automatically rob the country more than a century ago.
The property was returned to China.
"What's wrong, dear, these things are the most precious cultural relics. Don't you like them?"
Qin Xuanbing grew up in Hong Kong and studied abroad for a long time. She didn't know much about that period of Chinese history, so she couldn't understand Zhuang Rui's mood at this moment.
"It's true that they are precious, and I like them very much, but I prefer them to be stored in a museum in China rather than here. This can only mean that these things were stolen by robbers!"
Zhuang Rui was a little excited and spoke loudly. Many Chinese tourists around him heard it. Everyone had a look of contemplation on their faces. Zhuang Rui's words touched their hearts. Their faces
I no longer have that excited expression on my face.
"I'm sorry, Rui, I didn't know this..."
Seeing Zhuang Rui's excitement, Qin Xuanbing apologized to Zhuang Rui a little guiltily.
"Haha, it's none of your business. It's okay. Let's go..."
Zhuang Rui smiled and hugged Qin Xuanbing, put his right hand on her soft waist, and led Qin Xuanbing out of the museum.
"By the way, Xuan Bing, are there any antique shops in Paris? Just like our "Xuan Ruizhai", which specializes in selling old objects?"
After walking out of the museum, Zhuang Rui's heart moved. Since the aura in his eyes can distinguish foreign works of art, why can't he search for treasures abroad?
As long as it is a cultural relic, there are always some pearls covered with dust, and there may be some treasures left among the people. Zhuang Rui's "Dingguang Sword" and the Longkou black pottery were both found in the antique market.
"Antique shop? I really don't know, let me think about it..."
Qin Xuanbing had never paid attention to these things before. After hearing Zhuang Rui's words, she thought for a while and suddenly said: "I remembered that there seems to be a street in the Sixth District, which sells some weird things. Otherwise,
Let’s go take a look?”
After Qin Xuanbing finished speaking, she added: "But Zhuang Rui, I'm not sure that's an antique shop there..."
Zhuang Rui knew that he was not in a good mood today and had affected Qin Xuanbing, so he felt a little embarrassed. He held Qin Xuanbing's hand and said, "It's okay, let's go and have a look. Anyway, we have been to Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower."
Okay, let’s just treat it as shopping..."
The Sixth District of Paris, also known as the "Luxembourg District", is located on the south bank of the Seine-Marne River. It has many shops, cinemas, theaters, etc., and the vast Luxembourg Garden is also located in this area.
Like the French Academy, the School of Architecture, the School of Dentistry, Minerals and many other primary and secondary schools, the French House of Lords building is located in the Luxembourg Gardens, with a very strong cultural atmosphere.
Zhuang Rui and the others were now in the 16th District. It took more than half an hour to take a taxi before they found the place Qin Xuanbing mentioned.
According to the French driver who can speak English, this place is called Furstemberg Street. It is an extremely quiet street full of left bank literary and artistic atmosphere. He does not know what antiques are, but he knows that there are many things with a long history there.
Walking hand in hand with Qin Xuanbing in this street where there were obviously not many people, Zhuang Rui felt that although it was not as famous as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Fragrant Street and other scenic spots, it still had its intellectual and emotional side, exuding
A different kind of Parisian romance.
Both sides of the street were lined with shops decorated in a very classical style. Zhuang Rui followed his idea and took Qin Xuanbing and his family shopping.
Qin Xuanbing held a big-nosed Pinocchio puppet from "Pinocchio", looked at Zhuang Rui, and said unabashedly: "Zhuang Rui, this is so cute..."
"purchase!"
Zhuang Rui nodded heavily. He didn't know whether he was right or wrong to come here, because after shopping for a long time, most of the objects in these stores were interesting things, although there were also imitations of Renaissance oil paintings and some
It's a work of art, but it obviously doesn't meet Zhuang Rui's requirements.
After shopping for more than an hour, Zhuang Rui gained nothing, but his hands were full of gadgets purchased by Qin Xuanbing.
"After attacking the guy next door, why didn't that old boy Hitler blow up Paris in the first place?"
After Zhuang Rui walked out of a shop, he cursed angrily in his heart, when Japan destroyed China in devastation, damn Hitler also occupied Paris, why didn't he rob and burn it all?
Just now I heard the proprietress with a waist thicker than a bucket say that this street was built in 1886 and had gone through two world wars without any damage. This made Zhuang Rui feel very unbalanced.
Compared with Hitler, who was somewhat artistic and loved beautiful architecture, the Emperor of Japan was simply a bastard.
"Zhuang Rui, come and see this store. There are a lot of Chinese things in it..."
Zhuang Rui, who no longer wanted to go shopping, heard Qin Xuanbing's cry and chased after him. This was what he wanted to do, so he couldn't spoil his wife's interest, right?
"Huh? It's really..."
Zhuang Rui entered the store and took a look. The store was quite large and was divided into five or six areas. The place where he first entered was all Chinese handicrafts. Of course, before Zhuang Rui used aura identification, these things could only be
Call it a handicraft, you know, "Made in China" is very powerful.
Many friends who traveled abroad saw some exquisite handicrafts and planned to buy them back home as souvenirs. Who knew that when they showed them to their friends in China, the English letters underneath those handicrafts were "Made in China".
The origin of these items is clearly explained.
Sure enough, after careful identification by Zhuang Rui, he found that these gadgets were all exported and sold domestically. They were either used to fool foreigners who did not understand Chinese culture or to deal with Chinese people who came to search for treasures abroad. Anyway, they looked exquisite.
None of the things are true.
On the other side, there are some cold weapons and armors from the European Middle Ages, as well as many spears, halberds, war hammers, battle axes and bows and arrows. However, Zhuang Rui took a quick look and saw that even without using spiritual energy, from these
It can also be seen in the patina of the things, all of which are modern handicrafts.
On both sides of the corridor, there are closed and locked glass windows, which contain many handicrafts of different styles, including Japanese paper fans and lacquerware such as dressing boxes. Those paper fans are all painted with erotic pictures.
It seems that this should be the earliest prototype of the Japanese AV industry.
There are also various lighters that have been worn and faded in the glass window, and even ancient revolvers and flintlock pistols, neatly arranged in a row in the glass window.
Zhuang Rui observed these objects carefully, but to his disappointment, they looked like items from a certain age, but were actually modern handicrafts.
Judging from the appearance and coating alone, Zhuang Rui could not tell the age of these objects. However, under the observation of Ling Qi, it was naturally difficult to hide the authenticity of these objects. Zhuang Rui did not expect that such counterfeiting and piracy were also found in Europe.
Is it so popular?
Walking to the back of the store, there are some works from the Renaissance period at the end of the 12th century. The most eye-catching ones are of course the oil paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, but even if you think about it, you can tell that these things are definitely fake.
In addition, under the oil paintings hanging on the wall, there are many clocks that appear to be from the 18th or 19th centuries, including pocket watches and wall clocks. There are various styles, about fifty or sixty of them. On each watch, there is a
A small label with the price written on it.
"Huh? This watch is good..."
Zhuang Rui pointed to a pocket watch with a silver chain in the glass cabinet, and said in English to the middle-aged French man who had been looking at him: "Can you understand English? Please take out that watch.
I want to take a look..."
"Of course I understand, sir, I will be happy to help you..."
The middle-aged man bent down to Zhuang Rui politely, took out a bunch of keys from his waist, opened the glass cabinet, and took out the pocket watch Zhuang Rui wanted to see.
This middle-aged man’s name is Renault. This store existed during his grandfather’s generation. It’s been almost a century now. Renault can be considered a foreign antique dealer. He first entered the store when Zhuang Rui first entered the store.
, he noticed that this young-looking young man should be an expert.
Since entering the 21st century, China's consumption power has greatly improved. Nowadays, foreign businessmen no longer think that the Japanese are the ones who are generous. On the contrary, many foreign businessmen have now learned a few words in Chinese to use with those people.
Chinese high-rollers communicate.
Zhuang Rui naturally didn't know what the middle-aged shop owner was planning. His attention was focused on this pocket watch at the moment.
The silver chain on the pocket watch has become dull and slightly gray due to oxidation. On the surface of the pocket watch, there is an enamel filigree figure pattern in three colors: red, black and yellow. The figure on it is wearing an eighteenth-century
Gentleman's uniform, the image is extremely realistic.
After Zhuang Rui pressed the mechanism on the top of the pocket watch, the cover popped up. It was very sensitive and had not become dull due to the passage of time. It seemed that it was well maintained. Of course, the hands inside had stopped rotating.
Because this is indeed an antique pocket watch.
"Twenty thousand euros?"
Looking at the price on the silver chain, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but frowned. He could see with his spiritual energy that although this watch contained spiritual energy, it was just white and not very thick. In other words, the value was not very high.
.
In China, there are also Western watches that were not left over from the Kangxi and Qianlong years. The prices are generally around 100,000 RMB. This watch is priced at 20,000 Euros, which is somewhat beyond Zhuang Rui's psychological price. In jargon, although this is a "
There is a "glance" object, but the asking price is sky-high.
“Can this thing be cheaper?”
Zhuang Rui raised the enamel filigree Western watch in his hand and asked Renault.
Renault shrugged his shoulders, shook his head and said: "Oh, no, sir, this watch was left by my grandfather. It costs at least 20,000 euros. It really can't be cheaper..."
"Damn, why do you have the same tone as those profiteers in China? Either your ancestor or your grandfather. Has this foreigner ever set up a street stall in Panjiayuan and received professional training?"
When Zhuang Rui heard Renault's English with a French accent, he cursed in his heart. He must have started his career as a stall holder and was an authentic French cultural relic dealer.
"Well, since it was left by your grandfather, and a gentleman doesn't take what others like, I won't buy it. You can keep it to commemorate your grandfather..."
Zhuang Rui shook his head and handed the pocket watch to Renault. He was here to pick up leaks, not garbage. This thing is only worth about 100,000 yuan at home. If he spent 200,000 yuan to buy it abroad, isn't he sick?
"Oh, sir, if you really want it, the price can still be negotiated. I believe that my grandfather is in heaven, and I hope that the things he likes can have a good home..."
When Renault saw Zhuang Rui, he returned the pocket watch to him without hesitation. Knowing that the price of 20,000 euros frightened Zhuang Rui, he knew in his heart that although this thing was from the 18th or 19th century, it was left over in Europe.
There are many, and the price is actually not very high, that is, about four to five thousand euros.
"No... no, you can't say that. If your grandfather knew that you sold this thing, he would definitely scold his grandson for being unfilial..."
After Zhuang Rui heard Renault's words, he almost burst out laughing. His balls ached, and now that he was holding back his anger, he decided to just entertain him.
Zhuang Rui has heard before that foreigners never take their own family seriously. If you praise his mother's beauty and want to have some super-friendly relationship with his mother, I guess the foreigner will rush to sell you. Now
It seems that is indeed the case.
Zhuang Rui's words were spoken in English, and Renault couldn't tell that his grandson was swearing. He took his pocket watch and said: "Ten thousand euros, sir, this is the lowest price..."
Zhuang Rui shook his head. He really didn't have much interest in this thing. If he bought it for 10,000 euros and could buy it for 1 million rmb when he returned home, Zhuang Rui would consider it, but with a price difference of tens of thousands, he might still lose it.
Here, Zhuang Rui would not do this kind of business.
Just when he was about to refuse, Zhuang Rui suddenly remembered something and said, "We will discuss this later. Are these the only things in your store? Are there any older objects? Or
Are they some damaged paintings, books, etc.?"
Zhuang Rui suddenly thought that in Panjiayuan, people often come to buy and sell antiques. This street is equivalent to Panjiayuan in Paris. Maybe there will be foreigners who can't live a comfortable life and come to sell things?
"Oh, no, sir, your words are an insult to me. You know, my store is the largest art store in Paris. Of course, it is not just these things. There are many valuable products in the warehouse.
…”
Perhaps it was because Zhuang Rui's meaning was not clear enough that this guy, whose name and appearance were somewhat similar to that French big-nosed actor Jean Reno, became a little excited and corrected Zhuang Rui's mistakes in a gibberish voice.
From time to time, a few French words popped up.
"Sir, I think you have misunderstood me. I mean, I don't like anything here. If there are things I like in your warehouse, then money... is definitely not a problem..."
Zhuang Rui's eyes suddenly lit up when he heard that this store also had a warehouse. In domestic antique stores, good things would never be placed on the shelves. They would be kept in secret warehouses or safes. Anyway, Zhuang Rui
Most of Rui's treasures are in the basement.
Zhuang Rui just doesn't know if French antique shop owners also have this habit?
After clarifying what he meant, Zhuang Rui also took out a gold card from a famous Swiss bank and waved it at Renault. If the other party knew the goods, he should know that the overdraft amount of this card could reach 5 million euros.
