Arguments

There are five visitors 1) from Jakarta, Jakarta Raya searching for “fake antiques Indonesia”. 2) From  NewZealand searching for “nyonya home wares Singapore cheap sales. 3) From Singapore searching for “vase collectors dealers Singapore”. 4) From Round lake Illinois, U.S.A. searching for “nyonya porcelain ware”.  5) From Mentakab, Pahang searching for “chinese porcelain vase shop in cheras”.  Find out for yourselves is the best solution and no use being a frog under the nutshell.

All authentication must have details in the findings so that to minimize errors or mistakes. Collectors who wants to bulldoze their way by saying “yours are fakes, mine are genuine” will not be successful. I am sure that collectors should know GENUINES, BANDUNG COPIES OR FAKES AND JINGDEZHEN COPIES OR FAKES and not just pluck the facts or details from the air to confirm genuineness.

My friend and I were at the museum and there was an authentication session and two men brought one item each for authentication. One is a Blue and white Mei ping vase and the other is a Blue and white pear vase and from far I was able to tell that the two items were copies and my judgement was same as the experts from Peoples’ Republic of China. When the expert told them the items were copies, the two men raise their voices against the Chinese expert and the expert’s student started taking photos of the items. I then told my friend that there is no need for them to raise their voices. If I were to be the expert, I would ask them to lay down the characteristics of genuineness. There was no characteristic on the two items to tell that is genuine. It was then when we were at the museum canteen that I came to know about the argument through the expert’s student. The expert’s student told us that they claim that the items are from their grandparents. I then cracked a joke by saying that the items was from the Yuan dynasty grandparents time or which generation. The expert’s student who was then seated at the same table having his lunch felt more relax by my joke and I further added that such grandfather and grandmother stories don’t work and I told him I could easily furnish him with the characteristics on the genuine piece and expert’s student then told us that the two men tells stories but the two items tells different stories and the three of us had a lot of fun. I then told my friend that there is no need to raise voices as to genuine or fakes.

I realized that my slogan “ALL ARTEFACTS ARE FAKES UNLESS AND UNTIL PROVEN GENUINE” work well.

By now year 2015 has ended and most of the characteristics on genuine one are known so that Bandung copies and Jing dezhen copies will not be sold as genuine.

      

Mr Bulldozer

A visitor from Kuala Lumpur searching for “where to buy antique original ceramic in Malaysia”. The answer is I don’t know. It has been all along that I have been trying to throw away rubbish in collecting Antique Chinese call it whatever you like “ porcelain or ceramic “  due to genuine or fakes. Collectors may have kept something good but when they meet the expert/s who tell them that they are fakes that is the problem. A Chinese newspaper claimed that experts wrongly broke thirty items out of the three hundred items that were produced for authentication due to wrong judgement. I have been telling people not to become a collector and this was mentioned in my blog. Most of them trusted the experts who are makers from the present factories. Many would want to base on scientific tests. This case that happened in Seattle was about a Chinese antique dealer has some items scientifically tested in Hong Kong to be genuine before they were sent over to Seattle for sale and scientific tests done in Seattle were fakes. I then took the trouble to find out more about scientific tests. If ten different machines made in ten different countries with ten different calibration then which country made machine is the most reliable. I made my round and I got the facts which answered to what I wanted to know. Museums are institutions for studies and I felt very bored because no one can produce or give me answers to the authenticity on ANTIQUE CHINESE CERAMIC. I was at a museum one weekend and a group of three was there for the same event, one of whom knows me is an arrogant man and he had even visited my place when large portion of my collection was in Malaysia. I then made my rounds and came up. Right in front two of his friends and myself, he uses words and not facts to bulldoze through and I then asked why do you want to collect antique Chinese Porcelain. The three of them stared, after my explanation I also brought up Chinese Teapot and further explain, two of his friends quickly introduced themselves by giving me their name cards and on the spot I told him and his friends that he has no brains but only want to bulldoze his way because he is somebody known in Malaysia now known as “Mr. Bulldozer”. When I meet such problem with collectors, I will just hint and walk away laughing.

The way I see is that Malaysia is not a good place for selling antiques and there are not many knowledgeable collectors and at the same time collectors wants to bulldoze  their way to authenticate their items by guessing and not facts. The way they authenticate is 1)well stained 2)well corroded which you take a stone from the roadside back to the house looks better. I had in fact stated that porcelain items are more important to the users than the makers because makers can produce porcelain items to any size and shape. Users in earlier years have to use porcelain items with care and the rich people can afford them. Call them what you like Pua Nguar(told by one Mr. Goh that there is no Nyonya ware in the 60’s and a known scholar in Malaysia), Nyonya ware, Straits Chinese Porcelain are one good example in a way studies in Chinese Porcelain. Why are Baba and Nyonya families keeping porcelain crockery wares and not the makers because they can produce the quantity they wanted. Pua Nguar or Nyonya ware, or Straits Chinese Porcelain became important because of its beauty and later Bandung copies (well known for copies started from the late 60’s) and Jing dezhen continued production. There is a lady who tells me the difference between the old and new nyonya ware but not on “Bandung copies”

Collectors should know better because any artefacts told by them to be old are always with them and they have the chance to study and by bringing to expert will only allow short time for studies and also that the expert may not have come across such artefacts. Experts may say what they like including imitations can be made exactly the same as originals which I have recorded from a talk by an internationally recognized expert. When such cheating cases can be easily made up then why be a collector or expert.  Being a collector is no body important but only a fool and being laugh at by others. Such practices have caused a lot of laughter and when I try sharing with them the facts, they tend to disagree because RONNIE NG IS THE SON OF NG TING KAU, THE OLD CROOK THAT SELLS FAKE ANTIQUES AT OLD KLANG ROAD and now I am happy for them to blacklist me and they are aware the danger in collection lies with the owner.

  

International Symposium

A good start at the for studies about antique porcelain of the “Blue and White Porcelain In Late Yuan and Early Ming Dynasties Maritime Tour Exhibition”.  I was looking for someone who can help me to know what is old and what is new and I was turned down. I then asked around and there was a International Symposium and I was told to sit at a corner by one of the person in charge and later a lady ushered me to a place for conference and the person seated beside me was Mr. Mah, a Chinese national who after he got Ng Ting Kau Antique Shop name card, he showed me the items from his collection hand phone photo clip.

At the talk which I like to research in, it was all about artefacts  excavated  found in China and also discoveries found in Philippines and Indonesia.

I have been and am living in two worlds about Chinese artefacts, one world is about artefacts excavated and another world is how to know that it is genuine of that time which till now no one has given me answer which make a problem.

At the symposium there was a suggestion for scan to authenticate artefacts which I do not know how reliable it will be because scientific tests has caused an antique dealer to pay a fine of US$350,000 and also to crease business in Seattle.

 I met a collector whom I don’t know but he has some artefacts on show and when I introduce myself, he said he has heard about Ng Ting Kau. I told him that most of the collectors collect based on rumour buy, rumour sell and if they collect the wrong artefacts which mean fake or imitation, it can cause wealth never pass one generation or loss of coffin capital (in Cantonese) .

There is a vast difference in interest which I have discovered and that is not so much in authentication but the support by status. If you have the status having the piece then you can be comfortable and to pull string with someone of international figure but if he is there then you can be somebody and if he is no longer there then you are no body.

 I got to know a number of experts while having lunch and we shared our knowledge and I brought five items from my personal collection to share and not for anyone to authenticate otherwise it is too boring and they asked me to take photo to e-mail which is a problem because I have items in another country and at the same I want to keep them for my generations to come. The next problem is I am English educated and a there is a communication problem. It is not because you have a lot of money and you can own them. Knowledge on the artefacts owned by collectors is important.

I am semi-retired after many years as a dealer and looking forward to full retirement to see the market “rumour buy, rumour sell”, to declare “all artefacts are fake or copies unless and until proven genuine” and to advise “do not become a collector if you have not started to be one”. Further reading in these blogs will tell you history and stories and not grandfather and grandmothers’ stories in antiques like most collectors do.

Funny Experts

This week has been a real fun for me.  I met these people who want to be smart and one of them is a collector of willow pattern porcelain items and he wanted to lay a claim that one piece in his collection is special by having a few more birds drawn in flying in the sky on that piece and that he has checked in the internet about willow pattern to make comparison which resulted in his piece having more birds. To me is that what make the more birds important or special needs an answer.  I have a food warmer with willow pattern which I did not count the number of birds but I know it is a special piece which cannot be seen any for sale in the streets and furthermore I can tell it is genuine and I have no worry not selling it but has high value keeping it for pleasure or education purpose. To authenticate a piece with the extra birds is dangerous because to makers of imitations the few strokes are very simple from makers of “Bandung” or “Jing dezhen”.

One collector who also repair houses makes comparison with ceramic tiles and he told a group of us that new ceramic is very sharp and old porcelain are not sharp, I then asked him whether did he break up his pieces to authenticate and the whole group laugh at him.

 One antique dealer overheard my explanation to another antique dealer about old Chinese Teapots should leak and when this antique dealer saw me he was trying to hint me that what I said was wrong to a customer. This antique dealer has some teapots on display on his table and there was one which was fine crafted. There are confusions by collectors old teapots are valued by age and new teapots are valued by the beauty. Last year a maker has a piece priced at Rm.128,000 which is the highest and the rest range from Rm.98,000 to Rm. 1,500. I saw those teapots at a tea exhibition.      

One visitor to this blog from Singapore searching “antique authentication singapore”. I had already given the names of experts earlier in this blog. Saya tak tahu apa nak buat lagi kerana Bahasa Inggeris buruk. 

Uncomfortable Meetings

An invitation by a close friend to a one night stay at an island has brought about a good experience for me. When we first arrived at the jetty there was a restaurant, I saw a vase and was within my reach to feel the glaze and the owner brought down the vase for me to see if it is genuine. I was really surprised that there are so many collectors who are interested to collect old porcelain and also there is a shop that sells old coins and other collectable items. The first question was is this vase old? And my reply is that why do you want to collect old porcelain items and also my interest is to know what is old and what is new in porcelain. He then said that imitations from China can be made exactly the same as the old. My reply is that all old items can be ordered from the factories in China then why keep the old ones, might as well take the a stone from the road side to the house which is the world oldest and further conversation that I am looking for teapots that leaks and they seem more friendlier.

The shop owner of the antique shop was very proud at first and after I told him why we look for old porcelain items and Chinese teapots, he then said that those must be worth a lot and I said that only to those who knows. At his shop, he sells very few types of coins and most of the coins I have in my collection like Straits Settlement coins Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V and Malaya and North Borneo King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II and others.

In order to get better collectors must get knowledge and exchange what genuine is like and fake is like and not shouting at the person for selling fakes. I am getting a new batch of collectors who will be able to tell the fakes and not, whereas the old batch knows just to shout and avoid Ng Ting Kau Antique Shop for selling fakes.  The experts that I mentioned will be able to help to bring better understanding in authentication.

In my lifetime experiences, many collectors will be at my place with my father trying to buy antiques and once the items are said to be fakes or copies by expert or experts, my father is thrown aside and they even send someone to celebrate his death. Many have known to point fingers at him for selling fakes or copies has the ability to tell the importance of old Chinese porcelain. I am yet to learn from collectors what are Bandung fakes or copies, Jingdezhen copies or fakes and genuine ones and not on wishy-washy basis because I have been thrown aside as well. There was a Chinese tea dealer who defaced my name card in front of me and after many years, he wanted to talk to me and his friend wanted me to help him check his items from hand phone photo clip which I turned down. I felt very uncomfortable talking to the people which were the reason for me to leave immediately after any talks or meeting with them at coffee places.  

Chinese Tea Collectors

A visitor from Petaling Jaya, Selangor searching for “any chinese tea collectors in kuala lumpur”. Yes, there are collectors. There are collectors for many things like Porcelain, jade, rocks, jewellery, furniture, paintings, watches pens, snuff bottles cigarette boxes, match boxes, cigarettes lighters (petrol and gas), coins, stamps, old notes, bicycles, motorcycles, classic cars, vintage cars, toys, glass wares, brass wares, clocks, netsuke, locks, liquor and many other things. One friend of mine showed me a photo clip of a wrapped up Chinese tea with the tea company which he was able to trace to Ching Dynasty Kuang Hsu period A.D. 1874 – A.D. 1907 by the label attached. The problem now is that it needs to be open up to check the content which will damage the packing. How to tell the difference between the old tea and young tea requires the skill. I attended a tea promotion session and old tea was brewed and served for testing and my skill in telling the difference was no good because only old tea was served but not new tea. At the coffee shop I mentioned in my blog earlier, there was the kind of Chinese tea served in porcelain teapot which difference can be felt. I only bring my own teapot and the hot water and Chinese tea is supplied by the coffee shop. I usually share with an elderly couple who is the owners of the food stall and other friends and they keep telling me that they like to drink the tea from my teapot because it keeps them alert. I have been keeping this to myself.

Another visitor from Singapore searching for “buy vintage bowls singapore”. Since he cannot find vintage bowls in Singapore means there are not many importers in Singapore. In my earlier blog I had advised collectors to keep good contacts with shops that sell antiques, antiques dealers and freelance antique dealers so that they will let you know when they have the vintage bowls in stock otherwise the chance in your lifetime will be gone.

There are two visitors, one from Singapore searching for “Ipoh Antique Shop” and another from Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang searching for “Ipoh antique dealer”. These two visitors are searching for antiques suppliers. I do not know or heard of antique shops or antique dealers in Ipoh. I only know “Ku Tong Wong” (King in Antiques) in Ipoh was when a friend of mine introduced a friend to buy a Yuan dynasty A.D. 1279 to A. D. 1368 item and the buyer showed it to Ku Tong Wong and claimed to be a fake or copy and this piece was brought to Singapore for authentication by Mr. Lu Yaw and whatever happened, I don’t know and the matter has gone silent. At first strong aim of wanting to return this item but my sale condition require written remarks from experts which is to show whether experts are reliable or not and there was no way for me to tell collectors(local or foreign) these problems and the way they behave is to throw anger at my father and myself. After all I don’t know what antique shops and antique dealers in Ipoh sell and it is difficult for me say anything. In this blog in the earlier page, I had advised that you have to be your own judge, study, understand then buy and not buy and regret later. In this blog, I had created awareness that do not become a collector if you are not. I felt that many that have read this blogs do not understand my ENGLISH.

Another visitor from Beranang, Selangor searching for “baba nyonya antic plate”. The answer is inside my blog and I do not want to repeat what is stated.

Another from Kuala Lumpur searching for “danasty furniture petaling jaya”. I do not know furniture dealers because I had given up furniture business after Toh Puan Bunny Suffian passed on, she collects and introduced friends to collect antique furniture. I remembered she used to say “we had an enjoyable time” during the time she was collecting. Toh Puan Bunny Suffian collects baba nyonya furniture, Venetian mirrors with beveled edge, baba nyonya and Kelantan silver ware like betel nut boxes, mosquito net hooks, pillow and bolster ends, kerosang (brooch) and many silver ware that needs repair.     

Experts Needed

There is a visitor from La Jolla, California searching for “oriental arts and antiques penang malaysia” which is very easy after all visitors know Penang Malaysia and the next thing to do is to look for dealers, freelance dealers or shops that sells only antiques. The best way is to keep the contacts with dealers, freelance dealers or shops that sell only antiques to update what they have in stock and this is the way it should work out or stay there for sometime to source what you want for yourself. A quote from Julius Ceasar “I came, I saw, I conquered” and this quote applies to “I came, I saw, I bought”.

 At present there are not many dealers who want to stock many items because of 1) fakes or reproduction. 2) holding business capital up for too long and difficult to sell. Example there are so many reproduction of nyonya ware and to my surprise that an from a prominent family is said to be Bandung copy and made it easier to throw it away than to sell it and being accused of selling fakes.

The bitterness and sufferings dealing in antiques was that collectors do not want to learn what is genuine of fakes or reproduction and even condition like money back guaranteed is not workable and was said to be illegal and against public policy in civilian law. (extracted from Civil Action 5934 0f 1978 in the Magistrate Court, Kuala Lumpur) making sufferings are mine and comforts are yours.

The people who can really authenticate antiques are 1) William Young Willetts, 2)Peter Clague Malaysia, 3) Mr. Mohammad,  an Indonesian  staying in Malaysia, 4) Mr. Che Mokhtar Bin Che Ali Malaysia and former Magistrate, 5) Mr. Lu Yaw, Singapore, 6) Roxanna Brown, Thailand, 7) Mr. Peter Lam, Hong Kong,  8) Ku Tong Wong, Ipoh, Malaysia and Professor Peacock, Australia and these are the experts who will  help so that everybody will understand what antiques are.

Always remember that all artefacts are imitations unless and until proven genuine and I notice that the older post in this blog which is informative and is not on display. 

Pen Collectors

There are three very LUCKY VISITORS visited my blog and shared their searches. Visitor 1) from San Jose California searching “nyonya tea cup shop in kl.” has succeeded in getting nyonya tea cup in kl and not in Bandung or Jing dezhen.  Visitor 2)  from Puchong  Selangor searching “vintage watches sale K.L. my has succeeded  to find the place that sells what he wanted. I have been searching for such and could not find but I still kept my collection and apart from what I stated I have a Audemars Piguet watch which is selling for Rm.150,000 and it has increase in price. When watch collectors saw this watch, many are interested but they do not have the money to own it. Visitor 3) from Seremban , Negeri Sembilan found the place “cheap fountain pen seremban” which I cannot assess the prices without checking on the conditions of the fountain pens. I bought my Mont Blanc 149 for Rm209.60, Platinum made in Japan gold plated over solid silver which is one model, the other is wrapped with leather and the third is solid silver which I paid for Rm80. Swan safety lever pens by Marbie todd co. for Rm.80 and these pens are new pens old stock. Many other pens are bought in lot. I have about 400 pens some of which are used pens like Parker Vacuumatic, Parker 51,21,45, Duofold , Sheaaffer’s pfm , valiant, crest, connoisseur, Targa models of the slim and thick. There are so many like Conway Stewart, Watermans, Dunhill, Dupont , Cartier, Caran d Ache. The name list goes on and on because I bought up the old stock from one of the old pen shop. There is one pen in my collection which I paid for Rm. 300 and showed it to a pen shop owner and he told me that to sell this pen in Malaysia for between Rm. 500 to Rm.700 would be a problem because local collectors complain too expensive but in England it would fetch Stg. Pounds 1,000 which shows different price, different market.  A man sold me a pen for Rm. 250 and he wanted to buy it back and I quoted for Rm.600, he offered me Rm. 380 and I am still keeping this pen because I know it is difficult in getting beautiful pens for that I can afford.  Some of the collectors may not know the beauty in Sheaffers’ snokel pocket pen and for a thick pen like pfm it has inlaid nibs. This Sheaffer’s pfm pens are pens that I have been using every day.

 I am glad there are collectors who are not dependent on others to find the way to source for them 

A Wrong Place Hunter

One visitor from Bandar, Selangor searching for “antique shop vintage wrist watch malaysia”. In the early 80’s, one freelance dealer sold a lot of watches to a Hongkie and in the 90’s, one Japanese working in Malaysia, staying in Brickfields bought old watches and his old watches was sent to my friend’s shop for repair. These watches are all taken out of Malaysia and will not come back. My late father deals in watches but at that time there were not many customers made him to give up watches trade and having to service the watches and by the time customer looking for it the mechanism jammed. In my younger days, I kept a few which deemed it special to me brands like Roskopf, Election and Lancaster are found in my collections and to find antique shop vintage wrist watch Malaysia is difficult.

The next visitor from Indonesia searching for famous “bali antique collector” which I do not know about bali antiques thus making values not accessable.

The third visitor from Indonesia from Indonesia searching for “peranakan  antiq shop Indonesia” which I do not know much about peranakan items or whether there are any peranakan settlements in Indonesia because with the settlements, you will be able to find the deposits of antiq.

The fourth visitor from Singapore searching for “reproduction nyonya plate in penang”. What makes reproduction nyonya plate in Penang so important is not known to me. This year “2015” a shop in Petaling Jaya has few sizes of nyonya ware kamcheng and also in my blog, the Star newspaper had shown the availability of nyonya ware in Kuala Lumpur  and whether genuine or not is none of my business and I did my part to answer when people ask.  The best place to get reproduction nyonya ware is Bandung and Jing dezhen. The word “reproduction “ shows  the best and well known place to buy and also not only the importance can be found in Penang.

One visitor from Puchong Selangor searching” how to detect fake antique chinese porcelain”. To detect fake or genuine is easy for me and the only way for you is to have the time with the genuine and the fake together. You will not understand when I am giving short lecture with bare hands but will only confuse you further. I brought some items to a food court and the coffee shop that I mentioned to share my knowledge with my friends and had to stay back because the lecture was longer and it is rude and unfriendly to cut people off for those who want to know. A museum expert in the 20’s which I quoted that it need authenticated specimen to assist in studies. You can visit Asian Art Museum at the Universiti Malaya because this museum has authenticated specimen which is good for education and not many collectors know about this place.

A good collector is one able to bring out his pieces to show that the items in their collection are fit to go into the museum and not ones who goes on guess work.        

Collectors from Hong Kong

There is a visitor from United Kingdom searching for “Malaysia antique shop” which has already been answered, if you have missed it or was it due to my mistake or error for the omission, you can e-mail to me to tell me or ask me the part that I had not covered. The second visitor from Shikane ,Tokyo searching for “antique shop IPOH”  has been answered.

 The third visitor from Sydney, Nova Scotia searching for “best way to sell my antique signed imari plate”. The best way to sell any item is to advertise and popularize to educate and tell the importance of the item you have. I have not heard of signed imari item but for Japanese Netsuke some of them are signed and some are not. The makers’ signatures are not known to collectors whether they are famous or not.

This visitor from Sheung Wan, Hong Kong searching for “ngtingkauantiqueshopblogspot.com” and another from the same place which he or she are from the same place searching forronniengpohheong@hotmail.com. I do not know how to answer because these visitors’ searches are from ngtingkauantiqueshopblogspot.com to get my e-mail address ronniengpohheong@hotmail.com. Unless an e-mail letter is sent to me, something can be done. Blog is used to tell my experiences over the years and e-mail is meant for correspondence and there are no deposits of answers for your questions.   

Congratulations

Congratulation to this visitor: from Sydney, Nova Scotia searching for “image of imari plate dragon like blue plumes”.  I have not come across any imari items with dragon and this is something special in japanese ceramic. Chinese ceramics has dragons because it depicts the emperors.

 One visitor from kuala lumpur searching “to tell a real nyonya pocelaine from a fake”. This search was answered in my earlier blog.

 Next visitor: from Melaka searching for “sell antiques for cash in malaysia” which is not a difficult way to answer. 1) What are the items that are for sale? 2) Are such wares known to collectors? 3) Are the prices affordable by collectors? I find that there are not many good collectors in Malaysia when I ask simple questions like 1) “why do you want to collect old porcelain items and where road side you can find banner selling antique porcelain which such items are so easy to find?” and the next paragraph shows that they want to look for antique shops. 2) Why must Yi Hsing teapot leak in order to be good? Local collectors can only collect but not knowing that teapot should leak to be good and also the antiques collected by them are good or bad. I find it difficult to sell good antiques in Malaysia because collectors want their own theory and not based on any sense.

These visitors: 1) from Ipoh, Perak searching for “penang antique shop”. 2) Kajang, Selangor searching for “kajang antique shop”.  3) Singapore searching for “antique shop penang”. 4) Seria, Brunei searching for “peranakan antique shop singapore”.  All shops are open for businesses and it is advisable to look for their advertisement.

Visitors from 1) Singapore searching for “where to buy peranakan ware in penang”. 2) San Jose, California searching for “nyonya antique dealer. 3) Singapore searching for “shop selling nyonya plates in Singapore”. It is so difficult to find antique shops or dealer because there are no good antiques for them to sell. Visitors has to wait for vendors to open their shops once they accumulate stock to sell and it is of no use to open a shop today and close down tomorrow due to stock shortage.

In the 80’s there were many good collectors accusing my father of selling fakes or copies and this was mentioned in my earlier blog. A Chinese expert who visited Malaysia and confirmed my father’s customer’s items are good. Later my father asked a friend to write to him in Chinese and this old fox asked one of his student to come and demanded a letter of authority to sell our antiques and when we asked him that in case our customer walk in and wanted to buy something, do we have the freedom to deal direct with this customer or do we have to call you to attend to this customers’ need. When his request was turn down, he and others started to spread by telling that what we are selling are copies or fakes. One customer who is a boss of a company who visits China frequently was told my father at a earlier stage to pay this elderly expert a visit and he was told that the items that he bought from my father are fakes or copies and instead of returning or disposing off the items, he prefer to leave it at his business place and tell people that he bought the piece and got cheated.

This same China antique expert with a friend wanted to start an antique exhibition using 2,500 pieces of our antiques and I demanded for cash and due to that failure my father was hated and I was the UNLUCKY  PERSON who help in this business for selling fakes or copies.

 After my father’s death, I have been confronting experts on stage because it will make collectors more knowledgeable. One part time dealer met me at a Sunday flea market and he greeted me with bad intention when I say that I am looking for genuine items and he replied by saying that collectors wanted fakes and my reply was “that is their bloody business” and this reply was thrown at in front of his friends who are collectors as well.

Experts who are not knowledgeable collectors are not respecting or worth talking to. “Knowledgeable collectors” means anyone who is able to confirm what they said. Example a Ming dynasty item and how to know and come to conclusion that it is of the Ming Dynasty and not a fake or copy is important?

 Many crooks who want this business without knowledge and putting out capital want to high profit from it has made it an international failure and try to rob my father’s business by running him down and now I am openly running down this business by “rumour buy, rumour sell”.

 The answer to searching for antique shop and nyonya ware is that the shops and dealers do not have stocks for display and sell at their shops. Collectors are searching for antique shops and antiques that you wanted and can carry on searching to see his chance in a lifetime to come. If you are lucky you will get what you wanted and if not after collectors kick the bucket will also not get it. Opportunity never waits for you.

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE A HAPPY SEARCHING BEFORE KICKING THE BUCKET.

Looking for Good Collectors

There are a few visitors to this blog and searching for various things. First three visitors with one from Singapore searching for “peranakan antiques”, another from Semarang Jawa searching for “peranakan antiq shop Indonesia”, the third visitor from kubang kerian kelantan searching for ”peranakan furniture malaysia”.The answer is in this blog already for some time and I do not know why some searchers want to waste time asking this same question over and over again. I do not know whether there are any peranakan settlements in Indonesia, if there are peranakan settlements in Indonesia then there will be peranakan antiq shop in Indonesia, the same goes to the visitor from Singapore and Kelantan.

There is one visitor from Klang searching for “antique furniture for sale malaysia”. You may find antique furniture for sale in malaysia from newspaper classified advertisement for sale or you can advertise in the newspaper classified advertisement as an interested buyer for antique furniture in Malaysia.

This visitor from San Jose California is searching for “chinese antiques penang” should advertise in newspaper, so that buyers will have a lead to contact the seller and the seller will have a lead to contact the buyer. My late father made many advertisements in the newspaper until the newspaper refused to accept this phase “guaranteed authenticate” which simply mean that there are assurance that the items for sale are genuine by my late father and the guaranteed condition is found in this blog . There are many customers who showed the items sold by my late father to the museums’ cleaner and claimed them to be high class experts and give no answers to how conclusion is arrived. I openly claim that such bad education must be thrown away because if no answers are given then it is a matter of guess work.

 The next visitor from Mill Valley California searching for “nyonya ware and kitchen ching for sale “which is so easy to find and the two places are Bandung and Jing dezhen which make imitations exactly the same as originals with the aging by chemicals claimed by experts and the nyonya piece once owned by Madame Lopez was also said to be fakeable, copyable,duplicable, makeable, and manufactureable. This will answer your question.

The last visitor from Europe Union searching for “collectors of antiques malaysia” which I must say that I don’t know because from my investigation tells methat many collectors based on rumour buy, rumour sell and they do not know how to answer to the question on genuineness which means among the group of blind the one with the one eye is the king which I am still looking for the king.   

Saerching For Ng Ting Kau

There is a visitor from United Kingdom searching for “recommend furniture antique repair kuala lumpur”. My late father used to repair and sell antique furniture in Kuala Lumpur. There was a workshop at Campbell Road, Kuala Lumpur, I do not know where it is shifted. The high operation cost has put a stop to antique furniture repair in Kuala Lumpur.

Another three visitors from Singapore with one searching for “peranakan porcelain wares in Singapore” and the other searching for “antique nyonya ware” and the third visitor searching for “ANTIQUE NYONYA WARE SALE” which is difficult for me to tell because I see the items in front of me and as I turn my back it sold, I don’t know what to say. Maybe to say the right thing is that you may buy the right nyonya piece at the right place and at the right time. The place to order nyonya porcelain ware is Jing dezhen or Bandung and this was earlier mentioned in this blog. I saw two beautiful nyonya ware kamcheng at a shopping complex at my recent Saturday outing.

Next two visitors from Petaling jaya searching for “ng ting kau” which I had stated he died and his death is found in this blog because one visitor has search for him and not to let the visitor chasing after rainbow, I answered to this visitors ‘ search. I took over his business and started a shop at a shopping complex but collectors fail to see the true antiques and the risk in collecting antique porcelain ware to all collectors are told to beware of ‘Bandung copies or Jingdezhen copies”. I am now a freelance dealer and very busy with my lunch is my hour for rest at Sing Kee coffee shop owned by my niece opposite Pearl Point International Hotel at Old Klang Road, Kuala Lumpur. Visitors can call to this place because I met one knowledgeable man in Chinese history and we shared knowledge over lunch. There are not many good collectors in Chinese antiques I heard of which can provide knowledge to others, maybe Mr. William Willetts, Mr. Peter Clague(Malaysia), Mr. Lu Yaw and the learned magistrate, Mr. Che Mokhtar Bin Ali. Their help will not make collectors failure.

Three visitors from Easton Pennsylvannia searching for “che mokhtar binche ali Chinese ceramics malaysia e-mail”, the second searching for “lu yaw Chinese ceramics Singapore e-mail. You can advertise in the newspaper at the respective countries for their contacts. The e-mail addresses are of no importance to me because many distant themselves from me. My importance is to check and learn to tell whether the items are genuine or copies or fakes with a good conclusion.

Singaporean Collectors

This two visitors from Singapore with one searching for “peranakan porcelain genuine” another searching for “antiqueperanakanporcelien” are trying to make a fool out of me.

The Origin of Peranakan in Straits Settlement dated Wednesday 24 July 2013 states that the use of the word Peranakan appeared in the 1960’s when the then Straits Chinese British Association and later Peranakan Association Singapore on 23 February 1966. Peranakan porcelain ware among the other wares which is found to be bandung copies because of the demand of antique porcelain. Until now I do not know which is the best namely Pua nguar, nyonya ware or Peranakan ware?

Many years ago my late father was famous for sending away customers or visitors from Singapore concerning antiques and this was well known in Singapore. The trouble starts with these trouble makers who browse around and accuse him of selling fake antiques and his reply was to throw them out by saying “Don’t come here and get yourself cheated” and just ignored them making themselves to go off. None of them including other collectors refused to hear his explanation.  Arrogant collectors have thought that they are the best collectors and need not hear what others have to say. Now that collectors have turned experts are the best people to find out how to decide with details that the specimen is a fake or genuine.

 The best way is to look for an expert to advise you on genuineness and also where to buy so that purchases will not be wrong.

Looking for Nyonya Ware

Thank you to this visitor from Greenfield, Massachusetts searching for “arrogant antique collectors”. Some of the names of the arrogant collectors can be found at the back pages of the book titled “Celadon and other related wares”. In Malaysia, my late father and I had bad experiences with arrogant antique collectors and some may have passed away leaving the said to be good items to the next generation. The remaining ones are quiet now.

Visitors searching antique shops will not find it because antique shop owners do not know the items that arrogant antique collectors want so might as well do not keep stock to sell. My late father did not retire from this business but his son has to look for other business and put the antique business aside.  Antique business was put down by arrogant antique collectors by claiming that any new porcelain can be aged with acid and did not tell dealers how the ones that are aged looked like and the ones that are not aged.

The freelance Hong Kong dealer mentioned in this blog earlier who claims to be good at authenticating antiques does not ring a bell to me and if he wants to claim that he is good maybe he has to go on stage to answer questions. Interest in collecting antique Chinese porcelain will carry on from one generation to another. For example when I hold up one piece of genuine Nyonya ware or Tang Dynasty horse or Yuan dynasty blue and white item to confirm it as genuine, I am able to tell my sons and my grandchildren to know that it is genuine. 

One visitor e-mail one image of a square polychrome plate and ask whether I sell such plate, I don’t like to sell something that will create argument on the part of genuineness.

 Another visitor e-mail asking whether there is anyone in the government sector to authenticate antique porcelain and as far as I can say I don’t know in the government sector but I can suggest to look for these people, they are Mr. Lu Yaw in Singapore, the rest in Malaysia are Che Mokhtar Bin Che Ali, Mr. Mohammad, Mr. William Willetts and Mr. Peter Clague. These are the famous experts and arrogant antique collectors are nobody because they do not know how to authenticate and are only big bluff.

 Last visitor from Thailand searching for “peranakan ceramic factory in malaka” which I have not heard of any porcelain factory but maybe it might have started not long ago.

Ng Ting Kau Antique Shop is in Kuala Lumpur and not at any other places with the business registration. There are another three visitors, one from United Kingdom searching for “peranakan antiques” did not mention the items that was searching for. The next is from Singapore searching for “nyonya ware kamcheng and the following is from San Jose, California searching for “nyonya nyonya ware porcelain” and I am happy to say that many nyonya ware porcelain items passed my late father’s and my hand while we were staying at 4^1/2 Mile Klang Road and many owners who bought nyonya ware from us will be asked from whom you get it from. Experts who get the reply that they are from Mr. NgTing Kau will be claimed modern copies or fakes. I have checked with some of his customers who has thrown away the items sold by my late father and what is left that is not thrown away is for you to find out because I am not interested any more.

A Case for Genuineness

There is a case which involves me and an expert of a world famous museum because a customer bought a Sung dynasty item from my late father and this expert confirm it as Ching Dynasty Chien Lung copy and at that time this customer distant themselves from my father and myself. This customer came back asking me to glue a broken Tang Dynasty horse’s leg after a few unsuccessful attempts. I then told him that I have the Sung Dynasty items as well as the Chien Lung copy item of the same ware. I would like to see this expert with the aim to  bite hard that the Chien Lung  copy as genuine Sung dynasty and see what the expert is going to tell me. This customer got frightened and said that you do not have much of such stock left so don’t create trouble.

 One visitor from Kuala lumpur searching for “antique shop in kuala lumpur” and another visitor from Australia searching for “penang antiques” which I suggest by saying keep on searching and don’t give up because you may not find it today but you may find it tomorrow. A visitor from Bandar Seri Begawan searching for “how do I know whether the nyonya ware is authentic” which is simple if you have seen the authentic specimen, Bandung copies and present Jing dezhen copies and at the same time ask the vendor or vendors to give you information about genuineness which is the best effective way with the specimen in front of the vendor and you. The next visitor from Kuala Lumpur searching for “vintage plate shop in Malaysia” which I have not heard of any but there is a company that sells vintage plate salvaged from the Straits of Malacca and a few years ago, the company held a sale at KLCC business convention centre and I met Dr. Ivan Polanin, a cancer specialist working in Malaya in 1948 and he has been collecting porcelain and I shared my experience with him. I am unable to tell where this company is after I have partly retired from antique business while driving taxi.

Rival to Gold

It has been many years that historic Chinese porcelain has been claimed to be “RIVAL TO GOLD” and its subtitle is “Historic Chinese ceramics may be good bet to invest”, Hong Kong news found in The Malay Mail dated October 12^th 1979 and this article also tell us that it is impossible to make copies otherwise how can it be rival to gold.

I have not found any good collectors in antique Chinese porcelain because experts like William Willetts, Peter Clague, His Honour the Learned Magistrate Che Mokhtar Bin Che Ali, Mr. Mohammad, an Indonesian dealer, Hong Kong freelance dealer, a Chinese dealer at a shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur wants a piece of cake from the late Mr. Ng Ting Kau. I instigated my late father to fight on and now I am instigating collectors to fight with vendors or sellers if the items are not right or properly explained to satisfy doubts. This instigation was made up by experts and at that time when the experts told the collectors that their items are genuine are also problems to the collectors because they did not get the way how the experts got the conclusions. His Honour Che Mokhtar Bin Che Ali was a good expert in this field when he wrote the grounds of judgement.  The rest are dealers who want to make themselves popular by pointing their fingers at Ng Ting Kau for selling fake antiques and ended that they were brought down at public places.

There are two men I met recently one at a coffee shop and another at a society. 1) The one I met at the society is a Chinese calligrapher who wants to start an event at the society and seated beside him was a friend who said that you need to grind the Chinese ink, I then said that if the ink is viscous, it will be difficult to drag the brush and if it is too thin it will smear which made them staring at this English educated man. I then told them that I have two sets of Sung dynasty 960A.D. to 1279A.D. calligraphy set which I kept for my family. They were so excited and wanted to see, I told them to get the ink stick and we will make use of it. 2) The one I met at the coffee shop is a manager of a company and he reads Chinese and English, I show him some of my pieces and he is a knowledgeable person in Chinese culture. He told me that the group of artists who boarded the missing plane was at the gallery for seminar near the coffee shop that we met. We have enjoyable moment sharing knowledge because I can produce the piece and he was able to shed some light like I brought a painting, he then told me that the silk for clothes are different from for Chinese paintings.

There are two visitors. 1) Visitor from Malaysia searching for cost of antique nyonya “chai” in Penang. What is the item or items are not stated. Pricing can only be done with the items in front of you and not by just guessing. 2) Visitor from Singapore searching for “antique store in kuala lumpur” will have a good time searching for it. All the best and look for safe deals. There is an e-mail asking what I sell, I used to sell a lot of antiques like furniture , old embroidery, old Kelantan silver ware, coins, pocket watches, Dutch cast iron hanging kerosene lamps, old copper batik chops, porcelain wares of different dynasties, cut glass ware and whatever I come across that is of interest to customers. In my private collection, I have antique Chinese porcelain of different dynasties, old fountain pens which I bought at a clearance sale and there are not many collectors at that time and an old cut glass tantalus.

There is a Chinese lady who knows my late father and also known to many people, she was angry with me for criticizing William Willetts and from then on she has been fishing for information on antique Chinese porcelain. There was an exhibition and most of the items are from sunken vessel, she brought two items to show to a man who took part in the salvage of the sunken vessel. She said that it is from her ancestors, I then seek her permission to take a look at the base of one of the item which is a blue and white mei ping vase drawn with a stork. I then said it is a common drawing of the Yuan dynasty but did not say whether it is genuine or fake and she said it is older than that, I then said that it is Tang dynasty which I am making a fool out of her. I know that she is a student of William Willetts and she is a spy for Willetts and criticizing my late father and now she has distance herself from me. I felt it is much better instead of wasting time.

Another case was at the Chinese tea exhibition last year, one man  and his son operate a stall knows my friend, this man has always ignored me and in front of his stall with his friends, I brought out tea pots problems and further said wealth never passed one generation if we buy the wrong thing. One of his friends brought out his hand phone from his bag and asked me to look at the items that he has. I told him that I do not authenticate for collectors because genuine or fake are none of my business.

I have been playing the fool with foreign speakers and I enjoyed it because the fact that they handle artefacts less than me. I challenge them by my experience and they are out. I look forward to challenge experts otherwise antique business is a sunset business. Chinese educated experts are not worth trusting.

      

Rumor Buy Rumor Sell

There are visitors searching for 1) Visitor from Singapore searching for “antique store in kuala lumpur”. 2) Visitor from Boardman Oregon U.S.A. searching for “used vintage watches sales in sibu with contact no”.  3) Visitor from kuala lumpur searching for “porcelain plates in K.L”. 4) Visitor from Malaysia searching for “antique for sale in Malaysia”. 5) Visitor from Santa Fe, New Mexico searching for ‘nyonya ware and kitchen ching”. 6) Visitor from Indonesia searching for “Singapore sale tea pot peranakan”.

 I have not heard of antique store in Kuala Lumpur so visitor from Singapore should carry on searching . Visitor from Boardman, Oregon, U.S.A. searching for used vintage watches sales in Sibu with contact number, should know the brand or make of watches available and I wish him a happy time. Next visitor from Kuala Lumpur searching for porcelain plates in Kuala Lumpur which is easy to find and I had seen a lot sold at factory price at shopping complexes. A visitor from Malaysia searching for “antique for sale in Malaysia” which I have not heard of but I came across that dealers are frequently accused of selling fakes or copies because collectors wants dealers to guarantee them that the items they buy to be genuine and to be sold at high prices to their customers and when those items are not suitable for their customer’s house or the items are not sold because the price does not suit the buyers’ budget then make complaints that they are fakes or copies. I have faced these complaints. I will say there are not many good antique Chinese porcelain collectors internationally and now it is needed strict proof from collectors that their collections are good and they are good knowledgeable collectors. Antiques has stock limits and not that you can tell the dealer to order whatever you want and collect or deliver later. A visitor from Santa Fe, New Mexico searching for nyonya ware and kitchen ching. Santa Fe, New Mexico is a different place compared to Malaysia. Malaysia has nyonya ware made in Bandung and Jingdezhen. Kitchen ching  ware are crude which is difficult to find buyers and there are fakes or copies. Last visitor from Indonesia searching for Singapore sale teapot peranakan  should know where to buy and go ahead and buy what you understand what you like. Make sure that it is an important piece.

I have problems in this trade because many said to be collectors do not know what I am talking about and it is like a foreign language to them. I got bad experiences like Nyonya ware and Pua Nguar and good old porcelain items were said to be Bandung copies. Further laughter is found in The STAR World News dated Saturday, 10^th November 2007 titled “Forgotten vase sells for RM19million” tells us that a precious 18^thCentury Chinese vase in a closet virtually forgotten for three decades before selling  for more than Pounds 2.82mil (RM19.8mil). Sotheby’s said. Her blue and white “dragon “vase had been sitting at the bottom of her wardrobe since the 1970s, when an expert told her the piece was a copy. In the 70’s “Bandung copies” in antique ceramic was known and “Jing dezhen copies” were not heard of in Malaysia.

Many years ago, my late father has been giving opportunity to collectors but was not taken up and later I started a shop but was also not taken up so it was the choice of collectors who wants to base their collections on “rumour buy, rumour sell” which I would laugh at “monkey see, monkey do” which means that person has a good collection of Pua Nguar and I also must follow to make up a collection.

 I openly declare that those collectors whom I had known and made my late father their enemy by accusing him for selling fakes or copies are actually the enemies of their own and they cannot blame others for their own wrong. There is nothing for me to hide and I did not hide away from any issues but to educate myself and keep a good valuable collection with one motto “all artefacts are fakes unless and until they are proven to be genuine”.                                    

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. 

Exhibition Plan

There are three visitors to this blog. 1) Visitor from Petaling Jaya Selangor searching for “antique porcelain collector malaysia” which I had stated in this blog dated Tuesday, November 2014 titled Unknowledgeable collectors. 2) Visitor from Singapore searching for “Chinese porcelain stool” which can be order to make in Jing dezhen when there are no importers with stock of porcelain stools. 3) Visitor from Woodside, New York searching for “late yuan and early ming porcelain”. Items mentioned can be found in South East Asian maritime trade.

Exhibitions for antique porcelain have been planned at Old Klang road, Kuala Lumpur after Chinese New Year. Look out for Malaysian Chinese and English newspaper advertisement to know date, time and venue. 

Wasting Time Questions

These are the visitors that can make you feel that they do not read this blog well. 1) Kulai, Johor searching for “antique Chinese cabinets for sale in Malacca”.  Since you know the place which sells the cabinets in your search then you make your own decision. 2) Bandung Jawa Barat searching for “antique shop Bandung”. This search has been answered. 3) San Jose California searching for “nyonya blue batik crockery”. This can be found in Jing dezhen. 4) Semarang Jawa Tengah searching for “peranakan antiq for sale”.  I cannot say because stock in hand of dealers may not wait for you to buy.

Advice from experts which I met recently said that artefacts with certificate are worth collecting. From my experience a good certificate must be from the factory because I have a Swan fountain pen from Marbie Todd and this pen has a guarantee certificate, user’s manual and original box. This applies to porcelain as well.     

Article About Nyonya Ware Published in STAR Paper

Antiques Means Business is from Malaysian Business Magazine

There is a visitor from Singapore searching for “peranakan ceramic spoons manufacturers” which is very easy to find because what is peranakan I do not know but ceramic spoons manufacturers are found in Jing dezhen in the People’s Republic of China which is known internationally for porcelain making, I thought I do not have to tell the world about this porcelain making place.

A visitor e-mail a request looking for fake nyonya ware featured by the Star newspaper which I am about to add into this blog and also this article from the business times magazine about Peter Clague Malaysia. Peter Clague, Malaysia is so good at authentication that he used to say “throw away the bloody fakes” and these were the words that I heard. He is also a good friend of the Honorable Magistrate Che Mokhtar Bin Che Ali and also made this learned magistrate a good expert in authenticating antique Chinese porcelain. Another visitor from United States searching for “Sung dynasty black & orange bowl ad960 – 1279”. Most of the Sung dynasty items are one color and a few has few color. I am not sure whether the item this visitor is searching for is Temmuku bowls of the Sung Dynasty. Temmuku bowls has black glaze and a light orange color leaf in the bowl.   

As earlier mentioned most of the time that I am only free at lunch time and that is at a coffee shop opposite Pearl International building at Old Klang Road.