The country still has relatively strict requirements for the classification of cultural relics. Works like Castiglione can now only be classified as national second-level protected cultural relics, but their collection and market value are not low.
Not to mention anything else, after visiting so many museums in China, only the Palace Museum has a collection, which is relatively rare. However, including this one, Zhuang Rui already has three or four Castiglione oil paintings in his hands. If he can collect the ones from the Guimet Museum,
With all the works of Castiglione in hand, he can open a separate exhibition hall in his own museum.
This is also one of the main reasons why Zhuang Rui took action. A museum must have some characteristics, and the works of Qing Dynasty court painters can be used.
Moreover, although Castiglione's oil paintings are far inferior to Picasso's works, the maximum price in the international market is one to two million euros, but in China, it is normal to sell for 20 to 30 million yuan. If Zhuang Rui can use 120
If you win it for 10,000 euros, it will definitely be a sure profit.
"Damn it, how could there be a nationalist..."
Jefferson on the stage had already received the translation from the earphones and understood the meaning of Zhuang Rui's words just now. Although Zhuang Rui offered a price of 1.2 million euros, Jefferson was still a little angry. After all, this had nothing to do with him.
The expected auction prices are still quite different.
"With 1.2 million euros, is anyone interested? I can guarantee that this picture of a concubine from the Qing Dynasty in China has a very high collection value. In another year or two, it will definitely be sold for more than 3 million euros.
This is a rare opportunity, please consider it..."
Jefferson continued to use his sharp tongue to incite the Chinese collectors in the field. As long as someone makes another bid, the current deadlock can be broken, and Jefferson's intention can be achieved.
However, Jefferson still underestimated the influence of Zhuang Rui's words. Although the Chinese like to fight among themselves, the people on this occasion are relatively high-status.
And according to the Chinese behavioral rules, if the price is raised again after Zhuang Rui said those words, it will be clear that he is not giving Zhuang Rui face.
Although Zhuang Rui looks younger, there is an old saying in China: It is better to bully a white-bearded man than a poor young man. No one who can enter this situation is simple. Who knows what will happen behind Zhuang Rui?
The power? Keep a line as a human being. This is the thinking of many old foxes in the field.
"The second time with 1.2 million euros is only the last chance. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a rare opportunity. If you miss this precious oil painting, you may not know if it will be available again in the future. Please consider it carefully..."
After a full three minutes, Jefferson reluctantly knocked the auction hammer for the second time and tried his best to encourage the Chinese buyers present.
It’s not that Jefferson didn’t want his trust to raise the price, but he didn’t dare, that’s right, he just didn’t dare!
This is the first time that Castiglione's work has been auctioned internationally, and its price is between 1 million and 2 million euros. This is the price determined by the auction house organizing committee after multiple research and evaluation.
The price given by Zhuang Rui is just at the bottom line of people's psychological tolerance. It is not high but definitely not low. It is like a fishbone stuck in everyone's throat. If it cannot go up or down, it will be too expensive if you bid again.
Jefferson is in the same mood now, because he had not reached an agreement with the owner of this oil painting before. Unlike yesterday's auction, the auction house had an agreement with the owner before the auction started.
But this painting is different. If you ask people to raise the price and no one follows the price, the auction house will definitely have to pay for the painting for its own credibility, and that will be a lot of fun.
So Jefferson hesitated again and again, but finally did not dare to send the secret code to the audience, because he could not bear the consequences of this matter. If he failed to shoot or was photographed by one of his own people, he would have ruined himself.
A "white glove" sign.
"Gentlemen and ladies, there is one last chance, otherwise this Castiglione oil painting will belong to buyer No. 156..."
"Okay, your painting has been delayed for almost half an hour, hurry up and proceed..."
As soon as Jefferson finished speaking, he was interrupted by an impatient buyer in the audience. These people were all very mature middle-aged people. Now that they had made a decision, they would not be bought again.
Jefferson's words were beguiling.
"Okay, congratulations to buyer No. 156. Today's first auction, the oil painting "Bust of Concubine Chunhui" by Qing court painter Lang Shining, belongs to you..."
Hearing the impatient voice below, Jefferson knew that his efforts were in vain, and it took too long, and he couldn't drag it out any longer. In desperation, he hit the auction hammer hard, and the first auction of today's special auction was held.
A lot fell into Zhuang Rui's hands.
It's just that although Jefferson said congratulations, he didn't have much smile on his face. He originally planned to attract everyone's attention with the first auction item, but now the attention has been attracted, but the attention is in the wrong direction. Now everyone in the venue
These wealthy Chinese people paid more attention to Zhuang Rui than the auction itself.
"Young man, congratulations. You are so young and formidable. Hey, why do you look familiar to me?"
A lady sitting in the front row of Zhuang Rui turned around and smiled kindly at Zhuang Rui, but when she looked at Qin Xuanbing, she frowned slightly, as if she was wondering where she had seen Qin Xuanbing?
Zhuang Rui nodded quickly and returned the gift. He was not afraid that Qin Xuanbing would be jealous, because this lady was old enough to be his mother.
"Ms. Zhang, my surname is Qin, and my father is Qin Haoran..."
The lady didn't know Qin Xuanbing, but Qin Xuanbing knew her and responded politely.
"Oh...I see, it turns out you are the little princess of the Qin family. Why do you feel so familiar to me..."
Ms. Zhang laughed when she heard this, and then said: "So this is Mr. Zhuang, right? I always heard your name mentioned some time ago, but I have never seen it before. I didn't expect to see it here. Yes, very good.
What I said just now was very good..."
"I don't dare to take it seriously. I'm just a quick-fire person. I don't feel comfortable watching these foreign devils using the cultural relics they stole from China to make money from the Chinese people..."
Zhuang Rui didn't know the person in front of him, but judging from the demeanor in his words, he should be a respectable person, and he seemed to be quite young, so he quickly said a few words of humility.
However, the person described in Zhuang Rui's words is the prototype of Liu Chuan. Zhuang Rui still had very selfish motives in purchasing this painting, but he did not want to be thought that he was too scheming, so he had to act indignant.
Come on.
"Well, young man, he is worthy of the Qin family's little princess..."
The lady looked at Zhuang Rui and smiled, then turned around. She just heard that a young man from mainland China became the son-in-law of the Qin family and embarrassed Bao Yugang's son-in-law on the gambling boat. But it was just
I heard that she didn't pay much attention to the younger generation's affairs.
"Xuan Bing, who is this?"
Seeing the lady turn around, Zhuang Rui asked Qin Xuanbing in a low voice.
"She has quite a lot of background..."
Qin Xuanbing put her mouth to Zhuang Rui's ear and said: "Even though she is a woman, she is the director and vice president of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong, the director and general manager of Daqing Petroleum Co., Ltd., the general manager of Hong Kong Yongxing Enterprise Company, and a banker
Chairman of the Investment Co., Ltd. and Chairman of the Enterprise Development Center of the Hong Kong Management Association.
Her assets can be considered a super rich person even in Hong Kong, much better than our family..."
"Is it her? Does she have a brother named Zhang Zongxian?"
After Zhuang Rui heard Qin Xuanbing's words, he was stunned for a moment and asked.
Qin Xuanbing gave Zhuang Rui a strange look and said, "Yes, she and her brother are both famous people in Hong Kong. Why, do you know them?"
"I don't know, but these two brothers and sisters are very famous in the collecting circle..."
Zhuang Rui has never met Zhang Yongzhen's brother and sister, but he has heard a lot of anecdotes about them.
Zhang Yongzhen was born in a family of antiques. Her grandfather Zhang Jiru was famous for his skill in carving fan bones. His father Zhang Zhongying was the most famous antique dealer in old Shanghai during the Republic of China. He opened "Juzhenzhai" on the Bund, specializing in antiques and ceramics like Qiu Yanzhi.
Collectors also often visited his "Juzhen Zhai" back then.
When Uncle De was teaching Zhuang Rui about antiques, he mentioned the "Juzhenzhai" in old Shanghai more than once. He often said that if he were a few years older, he would definitely go to the "Juzhenzhai" to apply for a job as a shopkeeper.
Zhang Yongzhen’s elder brother is Zhang Zongxian, who can be called a famous antique master at home and abroad. Influenced by his family since childhood, Zhang Yongzhen has always been interested in traditional Chinese culture and art.
In the mid-1970s, Zhang Yongzhen, Fok Yingdong's second son, Fok Zhenhuan, and others registered and established the Hong Kong Daqing Petroleum Company to distribute China Petroleum.
With the extraordinary courage of women, Zhang Yongzhen took the lead in launching an all-weather oil delivery business, established a sound sales network in Hong Kong, China, and then invested in mainland telecommunications, transportation, commerce, real estate and other industries, laying the foundation for her in the industry.
The status and assets of successful women in Hong Kong's business community have long surpassed that of her brother Zhang Zongxian.
Success in career cannot obliterate Zhang Yongzhen's reputation in the collecting world. Zhang Yongzhen's porcelain collection was largely influenced by his brother Zhang Zongxian.
At the special auction of "Zhang Zongxian Collection of Porcelain" held by Christie's in November 1999, Zhang Yongzhen became the main buyer of the auction: she bought the Qing Kangxi rouge-red ground enamel lotus pattern bowl for HK$12.12 million, and paid HK$2.275 million for it.
Hong Kong dollars bought a Qing Qianlong bronze vase with enamel yellow ground peony pattern.
After the auction, Zhang Zongxian met his sister in the restaurant and said: "I know you have money, but you also bought too much. It would be great to leave some for others. People who don't know better think you are helping me protect the market."
."
At the 2002 Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong, China, Zhang Yongzhen spent HK$41.5 million to win a Qing Yongzheng famille rose peach and olive vase, which he then generously donated to the Shanghai Museum. That auction was quite an accident for Zhang Yongzhen.
At that time, Zhang Yongzhen was on the plane returning to Hong Kong, China. When she was bored, she saw the news of the auction and immediately fell in love with the Qing Yongzheng pastel bat peach and olive bottle. This beautiful pastel bottle has an olive shape and very neat lines.
beautiful.
The body of the bottle is painted with eight peaches and two bats in pastel colors. The peach fruit symbolizes "longevity", and "bat" is a homophone for "luck". This auspicious pattern with bat peaches as the theme is commonly seen in the official kilns of the Yongzheng and Qianlong dynasties.
porcelain.
Most of the pastel ware with bat and peach patterns handed down from the Yongzheng official kiln are large and small plates. The olive vase is extremely rare. The olive vase with pastel bat and peach pattern is the only one in the world, so it can be called a peerless vase.
Zhang Yongzhen secretly made up her mind at that time to buy this exquisite piece. At the Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong, she raised the price from HK$18 million to HK$37 million. No one raised the price again, and finally added the commission.
Later, he won the "Aquarius" for HK$41.5 million.
That auction item once created the highest price for Chinese art in the international market. Therefore, Zhang Yongzhen's name represents a big deal in the antique world, making many collectors who are short of money envious.
For such a person, even the current Zhuang Rui feels like he is standing tall. No matter in terms of money or status, there is still a big gap between Zhuang Rui and him.
"Can you ask her to donate or take out some objects to put in your own museum?"
An idea suddenly came to Zhuang Rui's mind. Although he had a lot of good things at his disposal, a deal with Zhang Yongzhen, who came from a family of collectors, would be a world of difference. Zhuang Rui couldn't help but put his mind on the other person's head.
superior.
Since he wants to open a private museum, Zhuang Rui wants to make it the most influential private museum in the country, but it is obviously impossible to do so with only his own objects.
Zhuang Rui has long had the idea of integrating some private collectors' collections, but the specific operation is more complicated. Zhuang Rui is only in the conceptual stage now, but after meeting Zhang Yongzhen, the idea in his mind gradually took shape.
This is what Zhuang Rui thinks now. As long as the other party is willing to bring his collection to the exhibition, the ownership of the object will still belong to the other party. He will sign a contract with him and after one or two years of exhibition, the object will be returned to the original owner and some fees will be paid.
Of course, if the other party's collection is much larger than his own exhibition collection, Zhuang Rui would not mind giving most of the museum's income to the other party, but forgetting the shares, it is difficult to allocate shares when it comes to the ownership of the museum's collections.
of.
As for whether the museum can make money, Zhuang Rui is not sure yet. Anyway, he is prepared to make losses. For now, it seems that except for Mr. Ma’s museum, which can barely cover some of the museum’s daily expenses, there is no other museum.
I heard that a private museum is profitable.
…
"sorry sir……"
While Zhuang Rui was bowing his head in thought, the auction was already going on, and a middle-aged man walked up to Zhuang Rui and interrupted his thoughts.
"Who are you?"
Zhuang Rui frowned slightly. He was interrupted just as he was thinking about some issues about the future development of the museum. He felt very uncomfortable.
"My name is George, and I am a lawyer from xx Auction House in Paris. I have been entrusted by the organizing committee of this auction to warn you, Mr. Zhuang, please do not post political and untrue remarks at the auction venue. If you continue to
If there is a next time, we will ask you to leave.
In addition, the truth about history has been buried in time. Sir, you have no evidence that these things were plundered from your country..."
As George spoke, Zhuang Rui's face gradually turned ugly. What he originally said when he took the painting was largely because he didn't want anyone to bid against him, but what George said now completely angered him.
Zhuang Rui.
Zhuang Rui asked himself that he was not an angry young man. When he had to choose between national interests and private interests, Zhuang Rui would probably choose private interests.
But this does not mean that he can endure being provoked. There is a bottom line for a person's patience, and George's words have exceeded the bottom line that Zhuang Rui can endure.
"I'm sorry. I think if I violate the laws of your country, you can sue me. If not, I will consider your words as a threat to me. I don't know that a well-known multinational auction house actually
Would do something like this..."
Zhuang Rui stood up abruptly, his voice so loud that it almost covered up Jefferson's words from the microphone in front of him. It was transmitted clearly in the auction hall that could seat more than 200 people.
"Oh...no, Mr. Zhuang, that's not what I meant..."
George found that the Chinese in front of him was a little different from the Chinese he knew. He originally thought that after he issued a warning, the other person would accept it humbly, but he did not expect that this young man had such a violent personality that he actually killed him on the spot.
He shouted, the matter was a little out of his control.
"You have made your meaning very clear..."
Zhuang Rui said coldly, then strode to the front desk and said, "Mr. Auctioneer, do you mind if I say a few words?"
Zhuang Rui didn't care whether Jefferson minded or not, he directly took the microphone on the auction stage and said to the audience: "Gentlemen and ladies, friends from all over the world who love Chinese culture, I'm sorry to bother you.
For a few minutes, I want to talk about what just happened to me..."
"Shit! What did George do?"
In a room on the second floor of the auction hall, a middle-aged man with gray hair, about fifty years old, slammed the ashtray in his hand on the ground.
"Go, let the security pull the Chinese guy down..."
"Richard, no, that person's information has been sent back. He has an official position in China and is a director of the China Jade Association. If we do this, it will cause international disputes..."
Next to the middle-aged man, another person stopped his decision and frowned tightly as he looked at a fax in his hand.
This fax not only contains information about Zhuang Rui's position in the Jade Association, but also lists Zhuang Rui's family relationships, which shows that the background of this auction house is not simple.
"Shit, Jefferson is an idiot. Why do you want to warn that young man and let him buy the painting? Isn't that the end of it?!"
After seeing Zhuang Rui's family relationship, Richard sat back heavily on the sofa. Their auction house also has branches in China, so he naturally knew what kind of background the family relationship on this fax paper represented.
Even though their power extends to every developed country in the world, they would not dare to use force against Zhuang Rui even if they had the courage.
So Richard could only vent his anger on Jefferson. After all, it was Jefferson who asked the lawyer to warn Zhuang Rui just now. Richard also felt that it was appropriate at the time. After all, Zhuang Rui's meddling behavior
, causing their interests to suffer losses.
Of course, Richard doesn't think so now.
…
Zhuang Rui's sudden outburst not only left the auction at a loss, but also many buyers who participated in the auction did not know what happened and stared blankly at Zhuang Rui standing in front.
"Gentlemen and ladies, just now, a lawyer who claimed to be the auction house warned me that I said something that was untrue. He meant that the painting I just photographed
Paintings are not, as I said, plundered from China.
Here, I can responsibly say that that painting by Castiglione was 100% snatched away by Frey from the French invasion force. Do you dare to say that what I said is not true? Do you dare to call out the owner?
Confront me?!"
Zhuang Rui took a long breath, calmed down his excitement, and then said: "I originally thought France was a country with freedom of speech, but I didn't expect that they didn't dare to face their past history. This made me feel very sad.
Disappointed, have you forgotten the time when the Germans invaded your land?"
"When it comes to Germany, I have to say that post-war Germany is still worthy of our respect. They dared to face up to their mistakes, took responsibility, and compensated for the losses. I guess France has benefited a lot from this, right?
But have you ever reflected on the disasters caused by the Chinese people? Are you auctioning cultural relics plundered from China and not allowing me to explain them?
Of course, the French people still have many friendly people who can face up to history. I am currently discussing with a museum about the return of Chinese cultural relics, but I feel very angry about the behavior of your auction house.
If this is the case, I think there is no need for you to warn me. I can withdraw from this auction on my own. At the same time, I hope that all conscientious Chinese people can also make such a choice. Thank you all for wasting your time.
…”
After Zhuang Rui said these words, he bowed deeply to the audience, and then strode towards the door. Qin Xuanbing and Huangfu Yun also stood up and walked to Zhuang Rui's side.
"Pah...pah..."
Starting from Ms. Zhang, the applause slowly started, and behind Zhuang Rui, people kept leaving their seats and joining in.
