To Be Good Collectors

It is internationally known that genuine antiques especially in Chinese porcelain ware will fetch high prices in the market, however there are many copies, fakes, imitations call it whatever you like are said to be made exactly the same as originals thus making genuine items fetching low prices.

Last year I met a freelance dealer from Hong Kong who knows my late father at the flea market. He was with a friend who is a collector seated at the coffee  shop and when I passed by I was invited to join in and I joined, he then criticize me by saying that my father was a good antique dealer but I do not know about his son. I then answered back by  that most dealers only rumor buy and rumor sell and can you tell me why do people collect old porcelain and that the ones with the banner on the road side cannot be treated as museum pieces and at the same time I wanted him to prove what he is selling are good. He was totally stunned by what I wanted. His friend looked down at him for unable to answer.

Last month I was at my brother in law’s funeral service and this well -known antique dealer after I introduced myself, I told him about “Bandung fakes” involving nyonya ware and that the piece once owned by Madame Lopez can also be copied in Bandung. He then said that Madame Lopez is still alive, I then say that nobody is interested in who is alive or dead but I am interested in whether the person is with the skill to tell whether the artefact is genuine or not. I then brought up a man’s name and told him that he is a member of UNESCO. He objected and asked me what year is he a member? I told him I cannot remember but I can show proof with the three gentlemen who were hearing our conversation as witness so that you cannot accuse me of being a liar, he faster asked for leave.

Experts or collectors who want to use their power to speak and not sticking to facts are liars because they want to deceive others by letting them know that they are better and well off with their knowledge or collection will create an embarrassment for themselves.

A Chinese friend who is a carpenter came and to see me concerning a Ming dynasty Hsuan Te blue and white vase with reign mark written from the right to the left, he made two immediate calls to follow him to authenticate the vase while I was busy. He then bought the vase and show me which is a copy and not original from Hsuan Te.  

There are many collectors who claimed that their collections are high class which make me doubtful, if there are no back up facts to tell why are their collections high class. I hate to share my knowledge with such collectors because before I can have a good explanation they run me down and blame me for being wrong and rude. This has discouraged me from sharing my knowledge because collectors had already known what are genuine and what are fakes or copies. I can only state that highly valuable items must have the back up facts to claim that the items in their collection are genuine.

 This statement that that imitations can be made exactly as originals has made the items with famous collectors can also be made at factories. The value of originals depend on the collectors how his or her items are proven to be genuine before the change of hands. Certificates must be from the factories are only valid.