American Customer

Recently I discover that most of the collectors in antiques like to argue that their items or artefacts in their collection are genuine rather than proving that the items or artefacts in their collection are genuine. By proving there is a chance for learning.

I remember very well that a customer from New York bought some artefacts from my late father and receipt was issued with “goods sold are not returnable” which is a universal practice and this American customer who is an accountant showed it to a museum and confirmed to be modern copies and the museum’s further comment that my father’s customer has no right to complain. This customer came back and see my late father and said that, it look like the deal is not fair because the receipt states that the items are antique and when an expert confirm that it is not, he can’t complain because “goods sold are not returnable” doesn’t give him the right to complain. I then took over the receipt and add in these words “but returnable on the condition that the goods mentioned are modern copies and there must be written remarks from experts” and counter signed which makes it my personal guarantee for the items. This customer was informed that I want to know who the person in the museum he showed the items to and not the museum’s sweeper who faces the items daily.  He then went back to the museum and demanded for a written remark but was turned down. He then came back to tell us that your sale condition works and that he told the expert that he is willing to buy a report for confirming that the items are modern copies so that he can get a refund and further bought a few items. This shows that experts who do not write reports are failure because it confuses collector not only locally but also internationally.

I found a good book titled “ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OF CHINESE GOVERNMENT EXHIBITS FOR  THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF CHINESE ART IN LONDON” in 1936 which came in four volumes and written in bilingual (Chinese and English). These set of books are informative because I have only one book that was written about bronze ware.

There are a number of good items floating in the market at present and it require experience to buy a correct item. A colour photocopy of the mail order catalogue or brochure of the lousy ware (call it what you like Nyonya ware, Straits Chinese Porcelain or Peranakan ware) will be shown at a coffee shop opposite Pearl Point Hotel at Old Klang Road and Taman Desa Food Court. 

Ng Ting Kau Antique Shop

This word “NgTing Kau “ is a Chinese name (read in Teochew dialect) and belong to an antique dealer at Kuala Lumpur, Malaya who was born on 27^th October 1933 and died on the 27^th July 1995 and his obituary can be found in the Star newspaper dated 28^th July 1995(see exhibit). Mr. Ng Ting Kau left Methodist Afternoon School in 6^th December 1951 (see school leaving certificate) and was an antique dealer widely known as a “crook” for selling imitation antique Chinese Porcelain items made in Bandung as genuine.

After his death, I took over the antique business with the name “Ng Ting Kau antique shop” at off Old Klang Road and later shifted to Amcorp Mall. At that time collectors were not interested in what Ng Ting Kau antique shop was selling because of his bad name and there was no way for me to get collectors and tell them about genuineness sold at “Ng Ting Kau Antique Shop”. The word “antiques” was not understood by collectors but in this blog “antiques” has to be genuine in order to be called “antiques”. This word is a quote from answers to visitors dated 24/7/2011 found in this blog and it requires antique dealers and collectors who want to sell to prove antiquity the items they are selling.

I have not learnt computer because spending time to run the taxi until three years ago. In year 2010, a schoolmate of my youngest son who taught him to set up this blog. “ngtingkauantiques. blogspot.com” is known. The business registration is used to keep as memory for this business that he has started (see exhibit of business registration). However any collector who wants to collect must ask the seller to lay the facts for the items so that confirmation that the piece is genuine and not fakes or copies and at the same time these facts can be shared with any other person or persons or transfer to the next generation.

At a relative’s house to celebrate Chinese New Year 2014, a couple (guest of my relative) was seated at the same table with my first and second son who happened to be my father’s customer recognizes me and was asking about antiques. In the short time, I asked 1) Why do you want to collect old porcelain and why are the Jingde zhen items claimed to be antiques at shopping mall no good? 2) I told them do not buy on “rumour buy, rumour sell” basis. 3)The reason why Yi-hsing teapot must leak when water is kept overnight. It was then they understood and this lesson was taught in the presence of my sons. It is honourable to show the truth and also for experts cum collectors in antiques to show and tell others what they have collected are genuine and worthwhile to collect.

It is good to do sharing only with knowledgeable group of people otherwise 1)What is genuine and what is fakes or copies is not known. 2) The important way is to identify Bandung copied Nyonya ware, Jing dezhen modern made Nyonya ware and genuine Nyonya ware and other wares as well. 3) All artefacts are fakes or copies unless and until proven genuine.

Ng Ting Kau’s School Leaving Certificate

Ng Ting Kau’s Obituary Photograph

Ng Ting Kau's New Business Registration