Large Sichuan Pottery Figure of a Witch Doctor

Compiled from Collecting Chinese Antiquities in Hong Kong

Large Sichuan Pottery Figure of a Witch Doctor

H: 100cm, Eastern Han (AD 23-AD 220)

Bronze Ding with Cover

Compiled from Collecting Chinese Antiquities in Hong Kong

Bronze Ding with Cover

H: 23cm, Warring States (BC 206-221)

What determines the value of a piece of antique and how to get the best bargain in Hong Kong?

Compiled from Collecting Chinese Antiquities in Hong Kong

        The value of a piece is determined by aesthetic beauty, workmanship, condition, supply and demand. Pieces made for an emperor usually reflect the highest quality of workmanship, while pieces made for imperial officials and wealthy merchants will have less value. Yet, even this can vary depending on the time the piece was produced. Some items produced for one emperor might be less valuable than pieces produced for another emperor. Something made for a noble might be more valuable than a piece made for a weak king. Thus, the historical background of the piece plays an important role in its valuation.

        Aesthetic attraction, craftsmanship and uniqueness will be reflected in the price of the item. Nonetheless, prices vary considerably over time, depending on supply and demand. For example, new discoveries of a Han tomb will add to the supply of artifacts from this period, therefore reducing the price of items from this dynasty. Figures of officers have more value than those of soldiers as they are rarer.

        Demand also determines prices. Obviously, if more people want pieces from a certain period, this demand will drive up prices. The same rule applies within a dynasty. Collectors will consider pieces produced in the reign of one emperor more valuable than items produced in the reign of another emperor, depending on the historical importance of the emperor. Even with a specific reign, certain items will be considered more valuable. Thus, the demand for the Tang ‘Fat’ lady figures might be more than that of the equivalent Tang male figure, therefore raising the price.

        Sometimes, collectors or antique dealers interested in certain kinds of pieces also hike up the price. The prices of tomb pieces can be higher than those of works from the Ming and Qing imperial period and marked ceramics from 50 years ago. Furthermore, where you buy the pieces affects the price. Hong Kong is the only city in China you can buy and ship Chinese antiques to your country legally. British law still applies because of the ‘one country two systems’ policy. All kinds of Chinese antiques are shipped to Hollywood Road in Hong Kong for resale. Thus, Hollywood Road was elected as one of the top ten shopping streets in the world.     Overseas collectors bear the cost of dealers’ travelling expenses, salaries, shipping costs, insurance, advertising, consulting commissions etc. As a result, there is generally a price difference of 3-7 times of what you would usually pay if you were to buy directly in Hong Kong, where most shops work with low profit margins in order to achieve high turnover. However, a considerable number of shops in Hong Kong will try to sell you reproductions as genuine antiques, so you need to work with a reputable and established dealer.

        Moreover, auctions in the United States and Europe tend to raise the market value of Chinese antiquities in the West. Although many people prefer to use an auction house, auctions tend to be far more expensive than purchasing directly from a Hong Kong dealer. Auction houses set higher prices in order to cover their promotion and auction fees. Therefore, it is no surprise that you find better quality pieces at lower prices in Hong Kong when compared to most American or European auctions.

        These days, you can purchase authentic Chinese antiques in Hong Kong as surprisingly low prices that can be less than what one would pay for a modern piece of art. Of course, exquisite and rare pieces can cost considerably more, but some of these pieces can turn out be bargains, depending on their age, workmanship and aesthetic beauty. Remember that the ultimate value of a piece is determined by you. Not everyone likes the same thing. This is what makes building a collection fun.    

Bronze Bell

Compiled from Collecting Chinese Antiquities in Hong Kong

Bronze Bell

H: 25 cm, Spring and Autumn (BC 771-475)

How Can I Avoid Buying a Fake in The Market?

Compiled from Collecting Chinese Antiquities in Hong Kong

        This is a simple question that may come with a complicated answer, depending on the piece you purchase. Where wooden pieces are concerned, there are universities such as the University of Toronto and the laboratories to provide Carbon 14 testing. Bronzes can be authenticated at London University. For jade, stone and glass, there are different techniques to determine authenticity.

        For pottery pieces, Oxford University provides an authenticity certificate based on the Thermoluminescence Test. This test is quite accurate for anything dating back to a few hundred years of the creation of a piece. Doreen Stoneham, a well-known expert in Chinese antiquities based in London, provides this test through the company she founded, Oxford Authentication Ltd. She has more than 28years experience and has surveyed more than 30,000 pieces. Her assistant, Phyllis Hsia takes samples from the pieces in Hong Kong and sends them directly to London for testing. Sotheby’s and Christie’s auction houses use her reports.

        While this test certifies authenticity, a professional dealer still assesses each piece according to its patina, style, weight, colour, hardness of clay and general look. In order to ignite your sense of art and to achieve a better understanding of the history and culture behind each piece of work, you should see and touch authentic pieces by visiting museums and galleries, and delve into the relevant literature. Having an antique consultant is very important as he guides you in the right direction, provides you with information on the history and culture behind each work of art and may help you save the extra expense of an Oxford test. Always find a dealer who is knowledgeable, professional, has an established reputation and has been in business for a long time. However, if you’re doubtful about a piece, ask the dealers if their galleries provide Oxford certification and whether they will be willing to bear the cost of the test if the results are negative.

            

Bronze Tripod (Ding)

Depicted from Collecting Chinese Antiquities in Hong Kong  

Bronze Tripod (Ding)

H: 21 cm, Western Zhou (BC 1027-771)

Archaic Bronze Gu

Depicted from Collecting Chinese Antiquities in Hong Kong

Archaic Bronze Gu

H: 23 cm, Shang (BC 1600-1100)