Unfriendly collectors

There are many boastful, arrogant and unfriendly collectors in Chinese antiques that I met will be well remembered in my lifetime.

One who was introduced by my younger sister who wanted some items which at that time I did not have stock of his interest. I told him to be careful of imitations and my experience in the court case and certificates wanted by collectors to prove authenticity.

Later my father, Mr. Ng Ting Kau died, he came to celebrate his death because the famous crook who sells fake antiques has died but to me I had lost my father and a good teacher in authenticating Chinese antiques. It is good for every one without this crook so that there won’t be much Bandung copies in the market because some collectors will fall into his cheat. I met this man later at a seminar on sunken vessel and he was not friendly at all. When I came to know of this, I can celebrate for collectors and glorify them for having antiques without certificates and also Bandung copies being treated as genuine. I am very happy that my father’s knowledge was transferred to my boys.

Another who has seen two wall clocks and was told that one belongs to a Dato and cannot be sold because he sent it over for safe keeping and the other is for sale. This customer paid a deposit for the clock which is for sale and later phone up to say that he wanted Dato’s clock and I can only say that you can only take for the item that you had pay the deposit for. He did not turn up to collect the clocks. Later when we met we were like enemies.

One accused my late father of using black magic to make customers buy antiques from him and he is somebody known in society because he wants to protect his collection. Now that he has use the non- black to teach his successor how his collection are genuine.

Three years ago I met this Indonesian antique dealer who runs his business in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur. I was with my friend seated at this food and coffee place and he and his friend looking for a place to sit. This place has long tables which can be shared by customers. Since there were empty places, I then invited them to sit. They sat and I asked him whether he is still running his shop at the hotel and his reply was “no’ I then asked him whether is he doing freelance and his reply was that “Yes, my things you sell your car yet you cannot buy up.” I then said that I am looking for celadons with six fishes and another with two figurines, he then change his subject by accusing me of disturbing at talks. I then told him and his group of friends who was seated around me dealing in semi-precious stones and old watches that I asked the speakers “can imitations be made exactly the same as originals” and the speakers said can and now that you claim that I was there to disturb then you can tell us how your good and old because your friends around here wants to learn from you and not from the “kurang ajar” (a word hated by malays which means lack of education.) person. He was at the loss of words and before I left, I went over to shake his hand telling everybody that I want knowledge on items that are claimed to be antiques and if you are not happy, we can continue next week or some other time. I notice that his friends have distant themselves.

 Due to attacks on antique business has made it difficult to survive and even you have good knowledge it won’t help to bring up good reputation. From then till now these attacks has also been directed at collectors.

Recently I was accused of being egoistic and this was spread to my boys. I would say thank you for high lighting because I have been a looser and there was no match for me against the high level of ego found in the rich, famous and powerful collectors. A common problem which is collectors are fond of is that after they kick the bucket they do not know and understand what are antiques.  

There is a visitor from Kirkland, Washington who asked whether my Kutani ware are genuine, after all the items are not for sale and to share further is that potters do not fire one or two items which is costly. Secondly who would want to make fakes and sell to small number of collectors. There are not many collector in Japanese porcelain but my late father bought them with other items and knowing what it is, there was no worry in keeping them.

A local collector used his handphone to show me the photo of his collection and in his collection there were “Swatow Ware and kitchen Ching “. There was a piece of unpainted Swatow ware which is of late Ming dynasty and he dated it as Sung. When I said that it is Ming and the other item as kitchen Ching , he wasn’t too happy. Kitchen Ching are fired in pile and Ming Swatow has fine and rough ware.

There many visitors searching for shops selling antiques which I am unable to tell them because what they are selling is not known to me like Bandung copies being sold as genuine will bring me a bad name for getting visitors to get cheated. At present my father’s name is already bad and I do not know how to repair but I will be organizing exhibition based on part of his collection and knowledge. Watch out for the dates and venue.  

Nothing Further To Add

There are 1) Visitor from Penang, Pulau Pinang searching for “antique cupboard straits peranakan imported overseas 100 years old. 2) Visitor from Houston, Texas searching for “nyonya furniture” 3) Visitor from Kuala Lumpur searching for “Ching antique furniture Malaysia”. I do not know or hear of any shop selling such furniture now.

 3) Visitor from Kuala Lumpur searching for “antique porcelain repair in penang” which I do not know whether the skill for porcelain repair has been imported from China to Penang . 4) Visitor from Singapore searching for “Chinese antique ting” which I do not know what he or she wants?  5) Visitor from London searching for “Chinese antiques Kuala Lumpur”. There were shops selling items called “curios” and that kind of shops has a mixture with antiques, later these shops closed down because collectors demanding antiques with certificates. 6) Visitor from Kampar searching for “buying authentic nyonya porcelain wares” which is a difficult deal to handle because most of the authentic nyonya porcelain are without certificates which most antique collectors wants the certificates to go with the authentic nyonya porcelain wares and other wares. 7) Visitor from Butterworth, Pulau Pinang searching for “Malaysia antique collector”. So far not many Malaysia antique collector is heard of but I heard of a “Ku Tung Wong” (in Cantonese means antique king) whether he is a collector or dealer which I am not clear is found in Ipoh. There is one thing that I am certain is that if collectors who owned 1) items without certificates.2) items which he or she is unable to prove that they are genuine are at a high risk and can cause riches or wealth never pass one generation which I can be very sure of. 7) Visitor from Seri Kembangan searching for “value of Blue and white nyonya ware”. I do not know which type you are talking about “batik blue and white” or “butterfly pattern”. Everything has a value and it is whether of high value or low value. The original ones are of high value because at that time when it was mass produced with good workmanship. Later mass produced in Bandung can be easily bought or order to make. There is a difference between the ancient and new and also that tests can be carried out. Ancient artefacts cannot be produced in modern factories and if ancient artefacts can be produced by modern factories, then new made ancient artefacts will flood the market making bad values for old made ancient artefacts then you and I will not hear of what is term as “museum piece”. TL test will damage porcelain artefact and before you send your item for test, do more research on the test. 8) Visitor from London searching for “penang antiques” which I do not know what he or she wants because there are so many different kinds of antiques. 9) Visitor from Singapore searching for “peranakan porcelain Singapore” puzzled me because being Singapore based has to ask foreigner for direction. 10) Visitor from Canton, Ohio searching for ”nyonya  porcelain ware”, and another from Northwich, Cheshire searching for “nyonya ware porcelain” should look at my earlier blog stated. 11) Visitor from Diamond Bar California searching for “old shops in Malaysia photo” which I do not know whether there are any shops that sells such items. 12) Visitor from Kuala Lumpur searching for “Chinese antiques in old klang road. Please look into the earlier blogs because you are not the only one looking for these places and there is one family run business has shifted most of the artefacts out of Malaysia after the founder of the business died and the address of the business is in the earlier blog.

Recently I met a lady who told me that my late father was sued for selling fake antiques or copies, there are the people who want to get facts twisted. My late father was the plaintiff in this case and I was the witness to this case which lead to 1) Experts namely William Willetts, and Peter Clague whom I do not know whether he the Singapore Peter Clague or Malaysia Peter Clague did not show the difference between the old and modern copies at the trial. 2) Learned Magistrate, Che Mokhtar Bin Che Ali who disappeared from the trial while in session must have known what is genuine and what is imitation otherwise how is he to pass judgement. I am taking this opportunity to congratulate collectors that has been attacking my late father for selling Bandung copies and that I longed for retirement (after my wife passed away) in buying and selling Chinese Antiques so that 1) There will be no further accusation of Ronnie Ng’s father (Mr. Ng Ting Kau) and later Ronnie Ng for selling fakes or Bandung copies or modern copies. 2) To make way for collectors to making wealth can pass three generations and at the same time there are many collectors around the world who are able to make good authentications. 3)To make way for a request in Heritage Asia Magazine is to invite one Mr. Mohammad to give talks on antiques which I can agree that experts from Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other Europeans including Malaysia will be able to help in authentication.

There will no more reply for visitors’ searches because I experienced the truth about collectors and there is nothing further for me to add.

Imitation Nyonya Ware

These recent visitors searching for: 1) From United Kingdom searching for “kuala lumpur + oriental tea sets dealers. There are many Chinese tea merchants in Malaysia and the tea sets available are Yi Hsing tea set, red clay and glass tea set. 2) Visitor from Bangkok Krung Thep “@ Hotmail + Singapore antique seller buyer”. This visitor should advertise his search in the Singapore newspaper classified advertisement so that people can respond to. 3) Visitor from kuala lumpur searching for “cases of ~fakes “antiques” “Malaysia”. There are a number of cases. A) A local dealer cum owner of a shop and a peddler was negotiating the price of a Sung dynasty Chun ware bowl and a European lady walked into the shop insisting to buy the bowl. The peddler followed this European lady to her house to collect the money. After some time this European lady went back to the shop and complaint that the bowl was a fake and demanded for refund. This shop owner told this European lady that the deal was between the peddler and her but he is willing to contact the peddler. To cut this story short, the European lady agreed on the term that instalment for the refund. This peddler then remitted the money from Singapore until the last few payments that this European lady sued the shop owner. The shop owner died due to fear. B) In year 1994, A Singapore dental surgeon bought some artefacts from a shop in a hotel and found that they were fakes and this was told by a Singaporean antique dealer. Enforcement division of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry had initially wanted to charge the dealer under the law but both parties reached amicable settlement.  (Extracted from The Malay Mail, Tuesday July 12, 1994) C) During the time when my late father was handling his antique business, I have been observing his customers and how to overcome genuine and fakes problem.  Most of his customers are no longer customers but browser searching for artefacts with certificates and they are more of a disturbance. Some of the collectors came over to my house and shouted at him and calling him “old crook” because he was accused for selling Bandung copies. Most of the collectors are looking for what I call “lousy ware” and they call it whatever “nyonya ware, peranakan ware, or straits Chinese porcelain” which are Bandung copies and also sold by mail order.  Now I would like to see a certificate issued by expert.

4) Visitor from Singapore searching for “blue with white colour nyonya bowl”. 5) Visitor from Chicago Illinois “collecting straits Chinese porcelain”. 6) Visitor from Petaling Jaya, Selangor “where can buy nyonya plate”. You can order these items from Jing dezhen , world famous for these items.

7) Visitor from K.L. Wilayah Persekutuan ”where to authenticate antiques”. When I say there is a difference between genuine and fake, objection against me is that there are no experts. It is up to collectors who want to have wealth or riches to pass three generations or wealth can’t pass one generation. (Wealth can’t pass three generations is a Chinese common saying.)

8) There a number of visitors from France, Penang, Singapore, Hong Kong and different parts of Malaysia “antique shops in different places like Penang ,Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor. I am sorry to say that I do not know what they sell and I do not want to point to the shops otherwise arguments may arise.

9) Visitor from K.L. W Persekutuan “antique shop amcorp mall William,” This visitor has shown that he has heard about this shop and for him to find , he need to go to the directory desk at the shopping complex  which is situated at the main entrance to get assistance which is not too difficult.

The future reply for my visitors search will be on hold because I have many other things to do.

Answers to Visitors

There are many visitors searching for many things. Visitor no.1 from London searching for “xu beihong galloping horse glazed”.  Sorry to say that I cannot find glazed horse on paintings

Visitor no 2 from penang, pulau pinang searching for “how to spot fake peranakan ware”. It is very easy, it only require the skill and knowledge even Bandung copies can be spotted.

Visitor no.3 from kuala lumpur searching for “vintage shop penang” which is easy to find because many of the old shops are considered heritage building.

Visitor no.4 from kuala lumpur  searching for “cheap antique Malaysia”. You will have to wait for your chance in your lifetime because collectors want to buy the items of your interest at the price you are looking for.

Visitor no.5 from Rockville Centre, New York searching for “names of collectors who buy kutani”. I do not have the list and also I have not heard of association for collecting kutani ware.

Visitor no.6 from kuala lumpur searching for “aliexpress  jingdezhen young buy reproduction antique wares”. This visitor confuses me which I am unable to answer.

Visitor no.7 from papar, sabah searching for “peranakan porcelain makers”.  There are two factories one in jingdezhen and another in Bandung which I do not know whether they are still making beautiful copies.

Visitor no.8 from Espoo, southern Finland searching for “where is the oldest antique shop in Singapore” and another visitor no.9 from Singapore searching for “antique Chinese vase boutique in Singapore”. I am lack of information and as such I am unable to answer to these two visitors’ searches.

Visitor no.10 from Singapore searching for “Chinese antiques Singapore experts”.  Singapore has many Chinese antique experts before the starting of auction business in Chinese antiques in Hong Kong. South East Asian Ceramic Society was also started in Singapore and an American Lady who stayed in Singapore collected porcelain items and later donated to a museum in America. Bandung copies was also spotted by experts in Singapore. I am very sure that there good experts in Singapore who are students at that time to carry on with authentications.

Visitor no.11 from kuala lumpur searching “ng ting kau” which is very easy, first you must get a certificate and then go to Semenyih  and you will find him there. The place that he stays is a well known place.

Visitor no.12 from Nokia, Western Finland searching for “antique buyer in Malaysia”. It is not known what type of antique that you are talking about and this make you difficult to get answer.

Visitor no.13 from London  searching for “nyonya for sale in uk”. I am not sure whether there are any importer for nyonya ware in London but in Malaysia, there are importers.

Visitor no.14 from Concord, New south Wales searching for “peter clague, Singapore”. Please refer to same blog posted on March, 27/2012.  

Visitor Search

There are two visitors with interesting searches 1) visitor from P.J. Selangor searching for “chinese ceramic shop in old klang road”. The Chinese ceramic shop in old klang road that I know was demolished and it is near the market. The business was shifted to a new place at Jalan Kuchai Lama, opposite Full Gospel Assembly Church and years later I am not able to tell where the business went.

2) Visitor from Saint Louis Missouri searching for “ming dynasty famille jaune ware”. What is famille jaune and when it was first made? From when did this make of Chinese porcelain get the foreign name like famille rose, famille noire, famille verte, famille jaune and other names with the word famille which I may have left out. Famille rose, famille noire, famille verte, famille jaune are overglaze enamel items. Beautiful crafted items are traded with overseas including yellow colour glazed which is a royal colour and cannot be used by commoner. This colour is also used by overseas royalties and was prepared by the Emperor of China at that time. I have not heard about famille jaune of the ming dynasty and I do not know how famille jaune of the ming dynasty look like.

Arrogant Collectors.

There are many arrogant collectors and experts who do not want to share with me certificates issued by famous experts or famous collectors.

There are some visitors with special searches 1) A visitor from Genova Liguria Italy searching for”old Japanese porcelain with bubbles”. 2) A visitor from Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang searching for “china antique dealers”. 3) A visitor from Segamat, Johor searching for “Chinese antiques shop in Klang”. 4) A visitor from K.L. W.P. searching for “nyonya ware in Hong Kong”. 5) A visitor from Indonesia searching for “antique collector malaysia”. 6) A visitor from K.L. WP searching for “peranakan antique stores in medan”. 7) A visitor from Seremban, Negeri Sembilan searching for “I bought from mr. ng”

The visitor from Genova, Italy did not mention which type of Japanese porcelain that he is referring. I love what I have a) Imari ware, a Japanese lady in kimono the red, blue and gold glaze. B) Ko-Kutani ware has fine crackle with green, blue, yellow and a special brown. The colour glaze found in Imari ware is not found in Ko-Kutani and Chinese porcelain ware. The glaze colour is not found in Ko-Kutani ware is not found in Imari ware and Chinese Porcelain, the same goes to the colour of Chinese celadon, Korean celadon and Thai celadon. However I love the Japanese porcelain that I have which has given me knowledge by proper studies by touching and not by hear-say. An expert had stated that one must learn with “authenticated specimen”.

The second visitor has to look for a wide area because most of the good items may not reach you as they may be sold out before you discover the good items.

The third visitor should follow the second visitor has to look for a wide area to search for Chinese antiques shop in Klang and whether there are Chinese antiques shop in Klang or not, I don’t know because I am not from Klang.

The fourth visitor should know whether there are prawn foodstuffs found in Hong Kong and as such I do not know whether you have come across or just being told.

Answer to fifth visitor, many collectors does not want knowledge but depend on experts to tell them whether the items are old or not. I do not know any knowledgeable collector in antiques in Malaysia.

As to the sixth visitor I have not heard of peranakan antique stores in medan but I see peranakan wares in local antique shops in K.L. and P.J.

The seventh visitor has not identified himself or herself and I cannot say that he or she was a customer of Ng Ting Kau Antique Shop at Kuala Lumpur and whether he or she has bought the items from Mr. Ng Ting Kau or Mr. Ronnie Ng Poh Heong and what are the items. There are many collectors who claim for certificates and I am sure by now there are many certificates issued by experts and the only way that Ng Ting Kau Antique Shop sell antiques are without certificates but for experts to issue report to prove any judgement that is wrong. Ng Ting Kau Antique Shop is registered with the Registrar of Business and not a road side peddler where the seller turn his back and the buyer turn his back, the buyer could not find the seller. I had earlier stated that the call it what you like Nyonya ware, Straits Chinese, Peranakan ware or Pua Nguar item owned by Madame Lopez, whether the ownership is important or the fact to tell the item is genuine or fake is important? Collectors will want to gain importance to their items by claiming that I bought it from this well- known dealer or from this famous family. The late Mr. Ng Ting Kau will always give details to the buyer but many do not want to know and that is all I know.

In The 70's

In the 70’s, Bandung copies was known and most of the collectors insist that only genuine ones are with certificates. At that time expert cum antique dealer, Peter Claque is the owner of Asia Antiques and have a business place at Loke House, Medan Tuanku, Kuala Lumpur., William Willetts and few other dealers (few Chinese, a Korean, and an Indonesian) must have issue certificates to support what is genuine which means that the item is not bought and sold by rumour (rumour buy, rumour sell basis). My late father has been told by browsers that genuine items has certificates and till today I have not seen one certificate which means that there are no good collectors.

Japanese collectors must be well congratulated because a Japanese couple bought some items and shown them to Peter Clague and they were said to be fakes and tried to return without proof and when my late father refused, they got angry and news spread around that my late father wasn’t fair. After all I have been equally angry with the Japanese Imperial  Army  for torturing my grandparents during the Second World War. I make sure that Japanese art will not be sold to Japanese like Ko-Kutani, Imari , Netsuke (signed) and whatever I come across to be kept away. It does not mean that Europeans has to be expert and I am searching for genuine items with certificates from them.

There are a few visitors searching 1) a visitor from Sg. Buloh “ the most beautiful nyonya ware in the world. 2) a visitor from Netherland searching for reproduction  Chinese opium bed.3) a visitor from Kuala Lumpur Chinese antique furniture old klang road

1)The most beautiful nyonya ware in the world is a garden table with six barrel stools for sale at a shop in Taman OUG, Kuala Lumpur whether it has been sold or not has nothing to do with me.

2)The reproduction Chinese opium bed which can be found in Peoples’ Republic of China because there are importers in Malaysia for Chinese furniture but I do not know if there are importer in Netherland.

3)There are two Chinese antique furniture, old klang road with one at 14H.D. Hock Ann Estate, 4¼ Mile Klang Road, Kuala Lumpur and another has been demolished to make the bridge next to Tesco  4½ Mile Klang Road and the second mentioned shop which I believe is still running antique business.

The rest of the visitors searching for nyonya ware, antique shops, antique shop facebook penang, straits chinese antique shop are a waste of time because nobody will want to share the secret location of the Ali Baba’s cave including the knowledge in authentication and if they share the location with you, you may not have the chance to see, touch or feel it because you are not the only person searching for genuine antiques.

Studies for the Genuine Antiques

The Yuan dynasty Mohammadan Blue plate.












Late Ming copy of the Yuan dynasty plate.

The photo of two yellow-ground dishes : that on the right is a Ming original, and that on the left a Ch'ien-lung copy is extracted from a book 'Chinese Porcelain' which thought me to know the difference between the original and a copy.

This is the Ming dynasty bowl that was claimed to be a modern copy by William Willetts and Peter Clague.

There are too many visitors searching for antique shops in Penang, Singapore and other places. The only way to look for these places is tourist information center and where to get kamcheng, basin, ladle, spittoon in Malaysia.

There are not many people who want to set up antique business because 1) the genuine items is here today and gone tomorrow.  2) Dealers do not know what to buy and sell due to complaint from customers that so and so expert claim that copies can be easily made in China. 3) Keeping the stock for too long and selling at a later date with low profits.

There are a few visitors who want to know whether what they have are genuine. The first thing to check is the ability of the expert in telling whether your items are genuine or fake. Don’t just go away happily when he or she tells you that your items are genuine and sad when he or she tell you that your items are fakes, find out how he conclude in order check any mistake is made by him. The photo of my Ming dynasty Blue and white bowl with lotus pond was claim to be a copy and comparison was made at a museum which left the William Willetts to embarrassment and Learned Magistrate to disappear from the court without calling for adjournment. There is a dealer cum expert claims that there are a lot of “bullshit” which I am about to find out whether he is a “bullshit” or not. Recently I check with one dealer who talk bad about my father’s collection to a friend and this friend brought me to see him. All I need to know is to see how he state his facts to conclude that his items for sale is genuine and being his customer will be at the wrong end and this incident was spread around Kuala Lumpur.(Chinese educated).       

The simple way to gain knowledge from experts is to ask for the difference  between Pua Nguar and call it what you like Nyonya, Peranakan, Strait Chinese porcelain ware and from this you can learn the difference between the two wares  and also the important requirements “genuine and fakes”. Pua Nguar and the other was told by a famous expert and the difference is not known to me yet. The dates between the genuine and fakes of Pua Nguar and the other are not too far apart and skill in telling will be valuable.

The reason for collecting old porcelain was not known to many collectors. I asked collectors why do you want to collect old porcelain items?  There are many banners hung on the roadside in various parts of Malaysia selling Jingdezhen porcelain, why are they no good? They should be good because 1) good condition. 2) no need to source. 3) buy it as the age you wanted it.

There are three visitors 1) from Hong Kong- searching for Nyonya ware price. 2) from Asia Pacific Region- on bubbles and authentication. 3) from Indonesia- the most rarest antiques and expensive Mohammedan Blue.

1)      Nyonya ware price is zero because it depends on whether the item a plate, tehko, spoon, cups, spittoon and others. When there is a chip on the item, it will bring bad luck to the collector unless it is something not from dining table.

2)      On bubble mentioned in one of the book and in another painting on the items are also important. A photo extracted from a book showing 2 plates of different periods, one being original Ming dynasty plate and the other a Ching Dynasty copy.  I have photograph of my Yuan Dynasty plate and A Late Ming copy of the same motifs. Spot for the difference.

3)      Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1279 to A.D. 1368) has the finest Mohammedan Blue items like foliated edged plates, bowls, double gourds vases, ewers, meiping vases, kendi, pitcher, temple vases and others. Its beauty has attracted potters of today to make imitations. In a kiln to fire porcelain, there are defects and the nearest to perfection will be good to collect and the ones with defect  are good for study purpose Price has nothing to do with collecting antiques but knowledge is important. Most of the comment is that imitations can be made exactly the same as originals and if a product with many processes can be easily imitated then we don’t need experts to authenticate and at the same time we can order to make and that make porcelain items cheap and my question is why do we want to collect porcelain that is so easily imitated. When we can easily get old porcelain from factories, we do not need to dig graves and salvage things from the seabed. Many collectors are afraid to collect porcelain and has interest diminished in collecting old porcelain wares.

The world most expensive Mohammedan Blue is unknown to me. It can be said to be cheap but involve a large sum of money. Expensive or high priced has something to do with the buyer because when the item is up for sale and the buyer interested in and able to pay for the price (record breaker price) is important and these record breaker price can further be broken. No high priced item or record breaker price sold by dealers in the market is heard of. It is of no use to dealers to have browsers who is interested in the item and cannot afford to pay for the high price. Selling at a price too high makes things unaffordable and selling things too cheap may raise suspicion that the items are no good (Too cheap to be genuine). There are experts who authenticate artefacts by price and further claim that the price is not correct to be genuine but then what is the correct price which makes artefacts genuine need to be specified. A very good piece when on sale in the street will not fetch high price without grandfather and grandmother stories.

For almost 35years,collectors hasn’t seen what I have and when I  opened my shop most of the collectors brushed me aside which made me to shift out. The fact remain that collectors will have to prove what they have are genuine when they wanted to share knowledge with friends or family members or customers when they wanted to sell.

Don’t be a collector if you are not one because depending expert for knowledge will end up telling you that imitations can be made exactly the same as originals. In the 70’s it was said that copies from Bandung was made exactly the same and nyonya items was sold by mail order. I told some of the collectors that don’t keep bad education because it can cause wealth never pass one generation. There are items in some collectors that multibillionaires cannot afford to buy it because it is special and not for sale. A good collector will look for something special (with knowledge) to keep with no worry of selling and such items money could hardly buy.