In 2000, Xiao Tong found this photo in the second-hand market of Guobao Temple, talked with the owner for a long time, and finally sold it in 400 yuan. I didn't have that much money with me at that time, and I felt that the owner didn't know the identity of "Erwoxuan" and didn't quite understand the true value of this photo, so I thought it would be absolutely no problem to buy it in a few days. Who would have thought that when Xiao Tong returned a few days later, the photos had been bought by others. Xiao Tong worked with the shopkeeper for a long time and got the buyer's address. His sincerity also touched the buyer and gave this old photo to Xiao Tong at the price of 600 yuan. Once you fall, you will gain wisdom. Since then, I have never liked treasures. Old photos make me simple and quiet. I want to provide some evidence for China's photographic history.
Reporter: Are you going to sell so many old photos?
Ice and snow: not for the time being, not in principle. If you think imported goods can live in and want to make money from them, you will stare at the price all day, but ignore its true value, which will make your mind unbalanced. Collecting old photos has a great influence on my personal character. Old photos make people simple. When I calm down in this impetuous social environment, I have a pursuit in my heart, indifferent to fame and fortune.
Reporter: Haven't you ever thought about using Tibet to raise Tibet?
Tanis: Maybe in the future, but there is a choice. My focus is still on research. I pay more attention to the development of early photography in China, but too many old photos are lost, which brings great trouble to the research. I want to collect as much as I can to provide some evidence for the study of China's photographic history. At present, I am writing an article on this subject.
Reporter: Now the price of old photos on the market is getting higher and higher. Are there any old photos that can't be taken?
Ice and Snow: Yes! Once I participated in an online auction, an old photo of the late Qing Dynasty started at $280, and finally got $800, which was bought by a foreign buyer. But you can't buy photos, try to save electronic versions and related text materials.
Looking forward to the establishment of China Museum of Photography in physical form.
Reporter: What do family members think of spending so much energy and financial resources to collect?
My wife doesn't know much about old photos, but she still supports them. Collecting old photos calms me down a lot, so I won't wander outside and stay at home all day. She sometimes jokes that one day she will not sell me and my son!
Reporter: Your website of China Museum of Photography was established at the end of last year. What are your plans for the future?
Ice and Snow: China Museum of Photography is a professional website that systematically displays my earliest photography works in China. At present, similar research in China is basically blank. I want to hold some personal exhibitions in the future, or set up a museum of personal old photos, and then contact the China Photographers Association to launch a large-scale international exhibition of old photos. If possible, I call on relevant departments to promote the establishment of the China Museum of Photography. If my wish comes true, I intend to donate most of my collection to promote the development of China's old photo collection and research. Tan Xue holds two 185 1 precious medals for the first World Expo.
Tanice often relies on the Internet to buy old photos from abroad, not only because there are abundant old photos abroad, but also because the prices of old photos from China are lower.
Xiao Tong said that in recent years, the collectible market in China has become hot as a whole, and the price of old photos has also risen rapidly. Generally, the domestic price of old photos of the same age is more than 10 times that of foreign countries. For example, at the Guardian auction in 2003, a panoramic photo of the Bund in Shanghai in the early years of the Republic of China actually fetched 6.5438+0.4 million yuan. Therefore, the collections purchased by Xiao Tong in recent two or three years mainly come from foreign markets.
However, Xiao Tong also said that there are more and more people paying attention to old photos in China, which can provide more information channels for his early photography research and the collection of old photos in China. Tan Xue's wife Fan Yingmin.
A man really should have a decent hobby. He doesn't smoke, drink or wander around all day, so his family's attitude towards his collection is basically the default.
His son is the most supportive person in the family. As long as guests come, the three-year-old son uses a warning as a "greeting", "Don't touch my father's photo!" Sometimes when I see a photo while shopping, my son will point to me and say, "This is my father's favorite photo. Help my father buy it back! " "
Personal evaluation: Xiao Tong said that collecting old photos had a great influence on his personality, which made him simple and quiet, and also gave him the image of a "new good man" in his wife's mind. In his left hand, Xiao Tong holds an old photo that he treasures most-a panoramic photo of the West Lake released by Erwoxuan in Hangzhou during Guangxu period of Qing Dynasty.