Iron Rust Color Spots

          Recently there has been argument about iron rust colour spots (translated in mandarin as tieh siew pan) found in Blue and White porcelain are genuine antiques. I have a good laugh because the collectors and experts only know that blue and white items are only good when iron rust colour spots are found and  whether the iron rust colour spots are manmade or appeared due to aging and this is not known to collectors and experts. When such collectors and experts are put on stage to give talks, it will be helpful to find out how well they know their homework.

A visitor from Batu Caves, Selangor searching for “Malaysia Chinese antique furniture supplier” which I can state that there is no factory for any antique items. My late father’s carpenter is now helping his wife selling noodles at Old Town Petaling Jaya after his retirement and his special tools for shaping wood was given to me. There were buyers for his tools which I want to keep. This is the same carpenter who restore and extracting the old carving parts from incomplete furniture to make complete furniture. This has been going on at Klang Road. It is very difficult to get restorers today and it will go back to the earlier years where gas and kerosene stoves were not in the market, most of the broken furniture are used as firewood for cooking. 

Wai Siau For

A friend of mine who visited antique shops in Peoples’ Republic of China and put forward the same question that I would ask to one antique shop owner and he seem to be confused. At the same time my friend showed him the photograph of Yuan dynasty Blue and white item and his reply was that if that is genuine, you can buy up the whole street. He also mentioned about “Nei Siau For and Wai Siau For” Most of the experts in the Peoples’ Republic of China always think that “Nei Siau For” is only found in China.

Mr. O Kai Seng , a businessman who runs his business at Penang Road. He sent a friend, Mr. Bah Chong Seang to China to choose the “Nei Siau For” vases. These vases were taken from families and sold to raise funds to fight Korean War. Mr. O Kai Seng then priced the vases at a high price and he rented a store at a place called “Tai Gu Ow”  in Teochew direct translation is ”slaughter cow back” for about eight months. Later he personally came to my house to invite my father to Penang to buy his vases and has set his condition that if my father fail to buy any of his vases, he will pay for my father’s expenses because he has stock and no customer and my father has customer but no stock.

At present I have been looking for photographs of the new batch of “Nei Siau For” found in the Peoples’ Republic of China which was brought up by experts and dealers because I came across the “Nei Siau For” items sold by the Communist China government. Some of the “Nei Siau For and Wai Siau For” items were said to be copied in Bandung.

The meaning of “Nei Siau For and Wai Siau For” can be found in this blog dated February 2, 2012.

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.

There are many visitors looking for Nyonya porcelain wares and one visitor from Brunei searching for value of Nyonya ware. The value of Nyonya ware is whether the items is 1) Pua Nguar or Nyonya 2) whether the item is Bandung or Jingdezhen made. 3) The time of manufacture.

Visitors to my blog had been informed that collectors must know what they are keeping and now must know what they wanted to buy and not to believe in the words 'genuine' or 'fake'. The details is of great importance.

A visitor from Singapore searching for genuine peranakan ware which is another name for Nyonya ware for sale which makes me wonder whether he has come across Bandung made or Jingdezhen made. Otherwise a genuine peranakan item placed in front of him for sale will be treated as something no good and accused of selling fakes which I had bad experiences in Malaysia.

The Late Mr. Ng

The late Mr.Ng Ting Kau has been in antique business for a long time and planned to make Kuala Lumpur an antique trade centre but his plan has failed because there were sayings that imitations from Bandung were made exactly the same as originals in the 70’s which has caused a lot of frictions between my late father and customers. The customers will come back and throw their weight which forced him to take back what he had sold are fakes without having to prove that the items they bought are fakes. I tried to revive the business and the lucky thing was that I am still running this business in sole proprietorship otherwise there will be quarrel among partners over fakes issues from customers and also I will have difficulty in exporting which need to be agreed upon.

After closing down the shop, most of the beautiful items were shipped overseas because they were deemed fakes by local collectors. This blog has helped me by telling collectors terms like “not worth being a collector”, ”rumour buy rumour sell”, ” no genuine no fake”, “wealth never passed three generations”, “all artefacts are imitation unless and until proven genuine” and ultimately in Chinese short story that father and son has to carry the donkey home. A visitor claims that it is hilarious that I am a taxi driver which I found the benefits of being a taxi driver. Here is the list of benefits. 1) when my wife was sick and she passed away in 2007, I have to take care of her and my four sons without having to apply leave from my job. 2) It gets me to know Kuala Lumpur route well. 3) I usually have my lunch at the canteen in the National Museum of Malaysia and after my meal, I will take a rest at the museum’s library and from that museum’s library I learn how to know the values in ancient artefacts and how to protect myself so that wealth can pass three generations in my family and also Asian Art Museum in Kuala Lumpur which has authenticated specimen for me to study.

A visitor from Denmark is searching for Xu bei Hong’s horse painting on plates.  As far as I know he only paints on papers and oil painting. The genuineness of paintings need to be inspected and details on how results. The wood block prints of some of Xu bei Hong’s painting is also posted with the front cover of the catalogue. I visited a shop which displayed a few paintings for sale, a Chinese national was looking for Xu Bei Hong’s painting and I took out the book on wood block prints and instead of looking for paintings, he wants to buy the book from me.

A visitor from Longford, Ireland searching for pua nguar teko but he did not make it clear whether he wants pua nguar teko from Bandung or Jingde zhen. Other visitors searching for  Nyonya ware, antique shops in Penang, Singapore, Straits Chinese Singapore, Nyonya Ware UK, Kangxi vase colour nyonya ware.

This is the list of searches from visitors to my blog.  1) Taiwanese Antique bowls. 2) auction value “Sung  Dynasty Bowls”. 3) Nyonya ware encyclopedia. 4) jokes on collecting antiques. 5) valuation of peranakan porcelain. 6)reproduction nyonya ware. 7) ”ronnie ng” 1980 photographer. 8) where to buy nyonya ware. 9) where to buy nyonya ware in penang. 10) how much commission for antique dealers in Malaysia. 11) fake nyonya ware. 12) fake Chinese antique porcelain. 13) Jingdezhen/nyonya  reproduction. 14) antique porcelain opium press and bowls. 15) Kamcheng  nyonya ware teapot for sale K.L. 16)Malaysia expert on nyonya ware. 17) Che Mokhtar Che Ali. 18) Chinese ming dynasty pots bowls. 19)kutani made in japan tea cups. 20)straits Chinese plate uk. 21)Cheng Ho Porcelain bowl. 22) where to buy reproduction ware in penang. 22)Che mokhtar magistrate. 23)kangxi vase color nyonya ware. 24)sung ting bowl-singing. 25) where to get cheap nyonya ware in Singapore. 26)Singapore nyonya ware. 27) Yuan vase fake. 28)reproduction peranakan Chinese porcelain manufacturers. 29)antique shop Malaysia-alibaba-lelong. 30)thermoluminicence test for porcelain in Singapore.31)searching for images of fake sung dunasty bowls. 32)searching for fake sung sung bowls. 33) made in Taiwan, republic of china label on spittoon. 34)arahats blue bowls. 35) is there a nyonya ware antique shop in Kajang?.

Visitors searching for fakes should go to People Republic of China, there are Yuan vase fakes and fakes sung dynasty bowls including images which you can even design for them to make.  Nyonya ware can also be bought there. I came to know there is an importer for nyonya ware in Kuala Lumpur but I do not have contacts with manufacturers.

Visitors searching for “ronnie ng” 1980 photographer, Che Mokhtar Che Ali and Che mokhtar magistrate should advertise in the newspapers and facebook.

Visitors searching for Taiwanese Antique bowls and made in Taiwan, republic of china label on spittoon should refer to Taiwan trade embassy for assistance because whether the mentioned items are made of jade, marble or other materials is not stated.

Visitors searching for nyonya ware, antique shops, in penang, expert on nyonya ware, Singapore nyonya ware, valuations on nyonya ware, nyonya ware encyclopedia, where to get nyonya ware in Singapore and is there a nyonya ware antique shop in Kajang  has created jokes in antique collecting.  I state what I know and I take those as a jokes. These visitors should request for nyonya ware shops to be opened in front of their house.

Visitors searching for auction values “Sung dynasty bowls” should find out for yourself because I don’t know whether the prices suits you and also antiques has no fixed market value. As to antique porcelain opium press bowls which I do not know what it is. Cheng Ho Porcelain bowl which I didn’t see Cheng Ho eating with that bowl and as such I cannot confirm that it is Cheng Ho Porcelain bowls. As to arahats blue bowls, sung ting bowl-singing and kangxi vase color nyonya ware which I haven’t come across and I do not have knowledge of what other collectors had.

Visitor searching for kutani made in japan tea cup which I have not come across but I have two sets of kutani sake set comprising of a double gourd bottle and two cups in one set. These sets which are not for sale and I do not like to post the photo for the set but only for one sake cup. Another visitor searching for experts in Chinese Imari for Kang Hsi Emperor.  Emperor Kang Hsi is in China and what was found in his possession and who actually knew about Chinese Imari for Kang His Emperor is not known to me but the expert mentioned can only be found in Peoples’ Republic of China today.  

Thermoluminescence tests is available at an institute in Bangi, Selangor and please check with specialist for more information. There are tests namely carbon 14, carbon 12 and non destructive scientific test.

Collectors know that there are a lot of fakes sold in the market but there are also genuine antiques in the market. There is a visitor accuses someone being cheat.  Why do collectors want to collect items that are so easily faked or imitated? An article that appeared in the Chinese daily, experts has broken thirty genuine artefacts after mistakes made in authentication.  Two months ago I bought a genuine Tang Dynasty (AD618-AD960) three colour horse for Rm100/- and I used my experience to authenticate it which I found it to be genuine and made it affordable for me to keep. All artefacts are imitation unless and until proven genuine.

This will be my last reply to visitors because I have antique exhibition to organize. The way that I answered was not clear to visitors and English should not be used. This blog has advised that do not be a collector because treasure can turn rubbish and rubbish can turn treasure. Another thing is when experts claim that imitations can be made exactly the same as originals then we do not need experts to authenticate. Wealth never passed three generations is when collectors with genuine artefact passed to next generation without telling the next generation, how to know that it is genuine will have trouble when the next generation shows to experts with the intention to sell and was told that is a fake. The next generation will scold the ancestor for giving them rubbish. Good collectors make good teachers by able to share the knowledge that tells what is genuine and fake. Good antiques are not judged by its prices but based on willing buyer, willing seller and knowledge.

Why a genuine Tang Dyansty three colour horse is sold for Rm 100 is because collectors could not see the value in the genuine horse thinking that it cannot be genuine. The vendor also have problem selling  at that price which browsers couldn’t believe that it is genuine.

One last reply for this year to a visitor searching for nyonya furniture of penang. Nyonya furniture is a mixture of Chinese and Western. Mahogany or blackwood furniture, red and gold furniture are the Chinese and the Dutch styled furniture. Mahogany furniture comes in sets of eight chairs and four side tables which come in square or rectangle, there is one type that is without armrest, bench, opium beds, half-moon tables and lower stand, with and without mother of pearls. Red and gold are guilded with goldleaf, single and double posted beds which means that mosquito net could be hung, seven carved panels with flower baskets in the front and a chest of drawers is placed at the back. Dressing table with five drawers with the beveled edge in green and flakes of mother of pearl., cupboards with two drawers  and below the drawers are two panels on the left and right and in between the panels are two doors and on top of it is another cupboard with two doors. Washstand and mother- in- law chest. Red and gold doors are of two type main door and side doors, side doors are the slim tall doors.

Western furniture which I came across are cupboards with two doors on the top section, at the lower section are two drawers curved and doors at the lower section. Dining furniture set, with one dining table with eight carved chairs rattan netting at the seat and back and also with arm rest. Side-boardes  with beveled edge mirrors and beautifully carved balustrades shelves to put decorative items on the top section and lower section usually Italian marble top with one long drawer and two side drawers, the specials ones has the middle drawer half -moon shaped. Side boards will not fit into modern homes with low ceiling. Balustrades taken from sideboards were modified into legs for piano stools. Another is that I find it difficult to describe is two slim cupboards with a panel of carving on top and in between is a drawer and a base plus a mirror to hold these three items. My late father has a restoration workshop at Old Klang Road in the earlier days.

The look alike paintings of Xu Bei Hong are woodblock prints extracted from the catalogue.

Front cover for the wood block print catalogue.

Kutani Cup from Sake Set.                        Kutani Plate with four Kanji characters.

There are a number of visitors who was searching for clarification in this blog.

On 11/2/2012- a visitor from Zurich searching how to find out if a piece of Chinese porcelain is valuable. The valuable porcelain lies with the items with beautiful drawings and other factors that money can hardly buy. If you want something old you can go to the roadside to take a stone which is one of the world's oldest items because stones are formed by earth's movements.

On 15/2/2012- a visitor from Ipoh,Perak searching for Xiu Bei Hong paintings. Xiu Bei Hong painting which is with one horse is easily duplicated even with wood block print.

On 22/3/2012- a visitor from Singapore searching how to define original Nyonya ware. Ask Nyonya ware collectors for more information because there is a difference between the old and new Pua Nguar mention in my blog. e.g. A collector invited me to see alleged Yuan dynasty items and there was a vast difference between mine and the alleged items. The difference was made known to him because there are not many Yuan dynasty items shown by collectors to make comparison. This method goes for Nyonya and Pua Nguar ware.

On 29/2/2012- a visitor from Brooklyn New York searching for celadons, Sung dynasty. Celadons are items resemblance to jade and brown celadons were due to firing temperature. Later period celadons have grey green and pale green.

On 29/2/2012- a visitor from Calgary Alberta searching for Sung dynasty bowls. Sung dynasty has conical bowls, bubble bowls and others.

On 1/3/2012- a visitor from Singapore searching for antique shop Penang. I haven't visited Penang for a long time. In my younger days, my late father (my present antique shop is named after him) took me to Swatow street and Hong Kong Lane to source for antiques and many agents called "Cheng Kao" will take us to see the items in old houses and these Cheng Kao gets commission from both sides when deals are successful.

On 4/3/2012- a visitor from P.J. searching how for authentication Nyonya ware. Please refer answer to visitor 22/3/2012.

On 4/3/2012- a visitor searching for Ng Ting Kau Amcorp Mall Business Hour. I visit Amcorp Mall to do treasure hunt and visit friends who operate stalls at Flea Market when I am free. A few years ago, I learnt a lesson that Malaysia does not have good collectors only based on rumour buy, rumour sell and this compelled me to take some of the items out of Malaysia after my shop at Amcorp mall shifted out.

On 6/3/2012- A visitor from Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest searching for porcelain mandarin che christie's. I haven't heard of what is porcelain mandarin che christie's but guess that Chinese porcelain for European market.

On 9/3/2012- A visitor from Bicester Oxfordshire searching for peter clague Singapore, I don't know peter clague Singapore but Peter Clague Malaysia is a famous antique dealer cum auctioneer. He was interviewed by Malaysian business magazine in the 70's. He was a material witness and not called by the parties concern to testify against a Chinese antique dealer who was accused of selling fake antiques. His absence in court ( Civil Action 5934 of 1978 in the Magistrate Court , Kuala Lumpur.) was a great loss and to the down fall for antique dealers and antique collectors. The important facts and information in antique authentication brought up by him during the trial at the court case will be made known to dealers and collectors and would have saved confused dealers and confused collectors. Interested parties can help to find out why this happened and also to retrieve the important facts and information.

A friend of mine brought his friend to see a few items in my antique collection and this person was a bit of self-importance and pointed to me that imitation can be made exactly the same as originals. I then said that in your collection, all can be made today and have no longer of high value. I also mentioned to him that in my blog I never encourage anyone to be antique collector. He is Chinese educated and the subject to scientific tests by drilling samples from given pieces and then process the samples before putting the samples into machines for tests. I then asked him whether he knows of the place in Malaysia which such test was carried out, he was blank. I then told him that I know the place and the accuracy and also the people who handle these machines. My advice to him was " Do not be an antique collector but be a handicraft collector" and this was found in this blog. In Malaysia there are some called antiques which can be easily bought at other countries.

In collecting antiques, everyone has to learn to know which is the most important. Late last year I bought a beautiful 400 days clock at this Chinese coffee shop opposite Pearl Point Hotel where I frequently have my breakfast and lunch. This kind of clock, I had been sourcing for almost 35 years.

I have good laughs at experts and collectors in porcelain items. The first was a friend who took some samples to the Peoples' Republic of China and shown the experts, whoever they are which I am not bothered and their comments was that the items are "WAI SIAU FOR" which in Mandarin is for outside China's market. I then requested for photographs of what is known to be "NEI SIAU FOR" which in Mandarin is for inside China's market. This matter is still pending because I admitted that what I have is "WAI SIAU FOR" for the reason that if the items in my collection were to be in China, it would be used in rough way, broken and thrown away. The Imperial wares that were brought overseas as gifts to royalties were also well preserved because food containers were not easily available as today like melamine, plastic, aluminium, stainless steel etc.

Second joke is a lady told a friend of mine that I have a lot of plates and my answer is that I have to cross the bridge when I come to it unlike collectors called handicraft items as antiques which can be ordered to make e.g. you want Ming dynasty items, you get it from the factory, you want Sung, you get Sung, want Ching, you get Ching.

Third joke is about Nyonya ware, in the 70's till the 80's "Bandung copies" in antique ceramics was known and "Jingdezhen copies" were not heard of. Nyonya ware were also sold by mail order (I have the brochure and price list) and this was well aware by most collectors themselves.

Fourth joke is about a company in the Peoples' Republic of China authenticates for antique collectors and can sell at a higher price. I had in this blog which I had stated that I have no trust in them. In Malaysia, unwanted bricks from old building were shipped to Japan to build houses and also why do collectors want to collect old porcelain items. ( there must be a reason to it but collectors and expert had known). Old Yi-Hsing teapot must leak in order to be good (when water is kept in the teapot water must seep through the wall of the teapot) and this is known to tea drinkers cum collectors. Makers of imitation porcelain items will put on the most valuable reign mark on the items to attract buyers and this is known to collectors.

Fifth joke was that at Amcorp Mall, dealer asked me whether I have Xi-Bei Hong painting on horses and I said hat Ma-Bei Hong painting is better. The complaint is on the brush strokes in Chinese paintings.

Sixth joke is about a collector from Penang, claim that he will throw away the items in his collection when experts tells him that the items are no good, my answer to him is that you are practicing wealth never pass three generations because old man doesn't teach the son and the son doesn't pass the information to the next generation. A number of collectors were stunned by this statement of mine but I had solved this problem of mine and some of my items are overseas.

All these years there were a lot fun in my research and enjoyment never cease, unlike whistle blowers ended like the fifth joke. Some comments from expert like authentication by weight and shape is not reliable and others need to be checked. Recently there was an article in the Star Newspaper dated 28th Jan,2012 that shows a boy looking at a Ching dynasty (A.D. 1644 -A.D. 1911) plate in China. It is common knowledge that most of the enamel polychrome are from the Ching dynasty which include the early Pua Nguar and Nyonya ware. Famille Noire, Famille Verte, Famille Jaune and Famille Rose are the names given to the coloured enamel wares. With a number of Ching dynasty emperors, the difficult part to identify lies with 3 emperors, the rest has a vast difference in many ways. This is known to experts and was not brought out for lectures leaving next generation lack of knowledge and also making those important artefacts in famous collectors becoming unimportant.

This plate of the Yuan dynasty (1279 A.D to 1368 A.D.) Mohammedan's Blue and the Koranic script are rare.

The pot in Tang dynasty (618 A.D. to 906 A.D.) The three colour pot have fine texture of glaze after come in contact with mud.

Antiques has to genuine in order to be called “Antiques”. There are not many good collectors in porcelain especially Chinese educated because there was no importance for them to find out the values of old porcelain. I have not come across books written about Antique Chinese before 1920’s. In the 60’s Chinese Government sells porcelain treasures which is also authentic specimen to pay Soviet Union the money owed for Korean War tells me that porcelain items are of no importance in China.

I have a good laugh at two old man who are respectable people in Kuala Lumpur. I brought a book written not long ago by a famous Chinese expert to show this old man. In this book a Yuan dynasty Blue & White Jar drawn with a Lohan (Arahat) riding on a carriage powered by a mythical lion. Another jar with the same motif was for sale at a shopping complex. This old man claim that the one in the book is better. I then question him on how he tells that the one in the book is better. I say that both may be the same unless I am able to study the two items. He was at the loss of word.

Another is this old man who claim to be well versed with Penang and Malacca family crockery ware. It started off when I said that my late father bought a Nyonya Ware Kamcheng ( foodpot) from a Indian Muslim dealer in the 60s in the presence of a few collectors. He then objected by saying that in the 60’s got ‘no’ Nyonya ware and it is called ‘Pua’ & ‘Nguar’ in Hokien means plates & bowls and that Nyonya ware came its existence after 1970’s. I then asked for the difference between the Pua Nguar and Nyonya ware. I am still at the puzzle because he has not made it clear. Does it mean that the ones in the 60’s does not have phoenixes and the ones in the 70’s does and which is of better value or the both are cheap stuff? If those item are RM5 to RM10, I wouldn’t bother to ask and but when it comes to above RM100 and above, then knowledge is necessary.

Since he claimed that there is no Nyonya ware in the 60’s, then we have Pua Nguar spitoon, Pua Nguar Kamcheng Pua Nguar tehko(tea pot) etc. and another is, call it what ever you like Nyonya, Straits Chinese or Peranakan spitoon, kamcheng, tehko etc. When I asked further he accuse me of stirring up trouble, so Nyonya ware and Pua Nguar collectors has to know which is which otherwise anyone will be accused of selling the wrong thing with the aim to cheat. This incident happened at Amcorp Mall Flee Market. I am still looking for answers so that I won’t fall into the wrong place.

The painting by Xu Bei Hong with one horse galloping is too easy to copy and with many of it in the market. The one that are with two horses, one horse lifting up legs is difficult to copy (Two photo attached with one alleged copy is mine and the other is from a book telling about Xu Bei Hong’s painting in China) yet it is being copied by unknown artist and the horses in the alleged copy does not looked like cartoon. If master copier like Chang Ta-Chien can copy Xu Bei Hong’s painting, Chi Pai Shih’s painting then copies will be called Chang Bei Hong’s painting, Chang Pai Shih’s painting and further that art students who copy the famous artist will follow like copier with surname Chen will be Chen Bei Hong and so on.

A European lady got a surprise because I told her that every collector must know what they have in their collection like genuine or fake. She told me that scientific ways can imitate porcelain items exactly the same, my reply is that every item in your collection will not fetch good value because money could easily buy the antique items in your pocession from factories. I cited an example that Nyonya ware items can be seen and bought everywhere. After that conversation I came to know why the Chinese proverb says that wealth never passed three generations. To the first generation, the artefacts in their collection are treasures. Second generation keeps them for fun without much knowledge, only by the word that they are treasure from the first generation. Third generation without knowledge to tell that those artefacts are genuine, will throw them away when they see so many copies in the market or after consulting experts who claim that they are fakes thus turning treasures in garbage.

The photos of the item which is Pua Nguar or Nyonya ware is not known to me yet and both photos of Xu Bei Hong’s painting and another ? Bei Hong’s painting with the horse that I mentioned are marked.

There are experts known to me that pluck facts from the air and claim that they are mighty thus leaving collector confused and causing wealth never passed three generations.

Greedy collectors wants museums’ pieces which is not for sale and ends up that in their lifetime not getting anything. Many collectors missed collecting good pieces available at one time but they are not interested to study themselves but to rely on experts’ opinion without getting proper judgement as in precedent found in The STAR World news pg. 43 titled “Forgotten vase sells for RM19 mil” which quote “Her blue and white “dragon” vase had been sitting at the bottom of her wardrobe since the l970s when an expert told her the piece was a copy.” Why do we collect? The answer is in page13 found in book titled “Collecting & Looking After Antiques” by John Fitzmaurice Mills.

Netsuke is well known among collectors compared to Japanese porcelain like Ko-Kutani, Arita Nabeshima, Kakimon, Imari, Satsuma and others.

These two items are they Pua Nguar or Nyonya ware?

This two photos is extracted from a book that talks about Xu Bei Hong’s painting and the horse that I emphasized is marked.

This is the painting that I owned and the horse on the painting which is marked does not looked like cartoon.

Sunken Treasure

It is not worth being an antique collector because treasure can turn to rubbish and rubbish to treasure.
Words like fakes or reproductions are easily used and can confuse collectors. As in the case of an English expert, William Willetts who claim that a Ming bowl as a fakes and comparison was made at the museum which he is the curator and he was found to have made mistakes in authentication which also carry doubts in the pieces of the museum.
Experts who doesn’t know to state the facts on items that are fakes, will also not know how to state the facts on the items that are genuine in writing but by stating it orally has no risk.
Provenance in writing is a must and how to prove that the item is from the person or the family who previously owned it is a problem. Example Madame Lopez who rented a unit at Cho Tek flat, Jalan Imbi in the late 60’s and due to rental problem, her things were auctioned off and my late father bought some of the items and a whatever you like to call it Nyonya Ware, Straits Chinese, or Pernakan plate was in that lot and to prove that the plate is from Madame Lopez is a problem. I don’t know it is the fact on the piece or the piece that belongs to Madame Lopez is important.
The items that I am looking for from sunken vessels of the Yuan or Ming dynasty from Admiral Cheng Ho because the items are from Mongol and Chinese government financed barter trade which are finer and can fetch higher price.

31 August 2010

To all antique porcelain collectors' concern.

To collect antique porcelain item has lead to international laughter or joke because experts are misleading.

Most countries are markets with imported antique porcelain items without much historical links but the most important is whether it is genuine or fake.

Experts must be thrown away because thermoluminescence test is used for ceramics and residual traces of cover materials from the casting of bronze objects.

To add further laughter at are the experts in this field and collectors who trusted them.

History tells us that: -

1) In 1975, when a fisherman Ch'oe Hyong-gun snagged several heavily encrusted ceramics vessels in his net while trawling for croakers off Sinan- a district on the south-western coast of the Republic of Korean. His brother, a school teacher examined the finds and suspected their importance. He showed them to the local authorities, who dismissed them as imitation. Finally experts in Seoul confirmed them as genuine antiques, and the Korean Cultural Property Preservation Bureau in South Korea aided by the navy, began systematically excavating the site in October 1976. ( Extract from Reader's Digest August 1980.)

2) In Malaysia, an antique dealer won a case against a couple who bought a Ming bowl for RM600 paid by cash and three pieces of Angkor Wat sandstone panels which was paid by cheque for RM6000 and this cheque was stopped payment for reason that the items were modern copies. ( Article can be found on page 5 of Star dated May 30, 1981.)
This antique dealer has stated that : - "Take Notice Goods Sold are not returnable but returnable on the condition that the Goods Mentioned above are proved they are modern copies. The proofs must be sufficient and must haven written remarks from experts.

Two Englishmen:

I) Peter Clague, an antique dealer whose business place was Loke House, Medan Tuanku, Kuala Lumpur who gave a valuation report of fakes and was not called to testify.

II) William Young Willetts who sworn in an affidavit stating his degrees and diplomas: -
a) Bachelor of Science (Bristol University) 1940.
b) Academic Diploma in Chinese Art And Archeology (London University) 1945.
c) M.A. Chinese Archeology (London University) 1946.
d) Bachelor of Arts in Classical Chinese (Oxford University) 1950.

He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (1971) and a curator of the Art Museum (University Of Singapore) from 1964 to 1973 and curator of Muzium Seni Asia (University Malaya) from then to the present time (30th July 1980, the date of affidavit sworn).
He also had studied on the spot in the six week long visits made between 1964 and 1968 and had written a book named "Angkor Roundabout" which is only a tourist guide and not a book on the antiquity of Angkor Wat.

Later it was discovered that he is the founder of the South East Asian Ceramic Society in Singapore and Malaysia. (Sunday Mail Weekend Extra dated 26th June 1994.)

On 17/10/80 Mr. Willetts gave evidence and comparison was made on the same day at Muzium Seni Asia. He also retracted certain statements, he made earlier. The Learned Magistrate, Che Mokhtar Bin Che Ali who did not record the retraction of the statements by Mr. Willetts and on May 29,1981 when plaintiff's counsel was cross-examining Mr. Willetts who is defence witness number three concerning the retract statements, The Learned Magistrate Che Mokhtar Bin Che Ali disappear from the courtroom leaving everybody in the courtroom in suspense. (Extracted from Civil Action 5934 of 1978 in the Magistrate court Kuala Lumpur.)

During the trial Mr. Willetts had tendered two letters of correspondence between him and Sotheby's to let the court know that he had corrected an error for Sotheby's that piece of Chinese Ceramic items was actually put up for sale as Iranian.

3) New Straits Times World news section by Associated Press dated Friday 22/12/1995 titled "Malaysians convicted of RM1.6m vase scam" tells us that a couple sold 45 pieces of fake Ming and Yuan Dynasty porcelain vases to five San Francisco Victims for US$640,000 and it was discovered to be fakes by featured expert of art appraisers from Christie's Fine Art Auctioneers in New York and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Sheffler said among other thing I quote". "If they had been real, the 45 rare and extremely valuable vases would have been worth approximately US$20 million" and also that certificates of authenticity had failed in its performance in this press statement.

Example:
a) Saturday Star World News section by Reuters dated Nov.9,1994 titled "Liberace's Cadillac fails to thrill bidders" which claim that 1931 V8 Roadster, used by the flamboyant pianist in his stage show, was expected to fetch 100,000 sterling pounds, attracted only a 55,000 bit when it was auctioned.
b) Thursday Star World News, October 8,1998 titled "No Takers for possible early Lincoln photo" tells that a daguerreo- type claim to be the earliest known photograph of Abraham Lincoln failed to sell at an auction on Tuesday when bidding petered out at US$150,000 and this items was put up for sale by Christie in New York.
c) Miller's antique price guide tells that "The never-ending problem of fixing prices for antiques."

For the 2 example, Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Sheffler is implying that Liberace's Cadillac and Lincoln's photo are no good otherwise it would have been sold at a higher price.

4) Sunday Mail 28th July 1996 titled "Royal Fakes". It turned out that a pair of Chinese Porcelain 'Famille-verte' caches pots of the Kangxi period, on loan from the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen's mother are reproductions done in factory in Paris and was placed at Grosvenor House Art and Fair. Who was expert or experts who verified the cache pots to be Kangxi period is not known which creating embarrassment.

5) NST World News Thursday Aug. 15 1996 titled " Malaysian couple jailed for selling fake Chinese Porcelain". I do not know whether it is the same or different subject. If it were to be same subject then we are having 2 stories to be one subject. Assistant US Attorney Ross Nader in this press statement said "The couple told buyers that 45 porcelains dated from the Ming and Yuan dynasties in China. All were actually manufactured in the last 25 years. Before sale, the couple asked Clarence Shangraw, then chief curator of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, to verify the porcelain's authenticity and recommend that the museum buy some, but he said they were fakes." I do not know what degree or degrees Clarence Shangraw posses but compared to Mr. Willetts professional reputation is recognised by as prestigious as Encyclopedia Brittanica. Mr. Willetts was caught making mistakes when comparison was made in the museum. (Sarkar on Evidence (12th edition) Value of Expert Evidence in General verified genuineness by making comparisons with the exhibits in the museum against the fakes)

There are so much to laugh at that it is about to be a laughing subject than a collecting subjects.

All the press records are extracted from Malaysia's newspaper.

Earlier this year, a Chinese magazine and Nanyang Siang Pau dated 2/6/2002 featuring the same topic that Taiwanese get specialists to make imitation porcelain to cheat Taiwanese collectors. When imitations can be made exactly the same as originals, then museums and university of antiquity subject is not required anymore. Collectors who do learn about weathering process are idiots. Let idiots be idiots forever.