There are many kinds of antiques, including ceramics, epigraphy, calligraphy and painting, miscellaneous parts and so on. Different kinds of identification methods are also different. Generally, appraisers specialize in one or two directions, but there are still a few appraisers who are proficient in various antiques.
It is very complicated to identify an antique not only its authenticity and material, but also its specific age and source (whether it is a masterpiece or an official or folk work), so as to better determine its collection value. Therefore, in addition to the professional knowledge of antiques, appraisers also need to master rich knowledge of history, literature, art, physics and chemistry. Limited by space, the author can't give examples, but simply say a few representative and common antique category identification.
How to identify antique ancient jade
1, ceramics
Ceramic products produced in different times, regions and kilns have different styles and characteristics, such as raw materials, temperature, modeling, ornamentation and techniques. These can be found in some professional books in detail. In other words, a fake that is highly imitated by modern technology, as long as it is carefully observed and compared, will still find that this fake can not be completely imitated.
The common methods to distinguish authenticity are: to see whether the knife method is smooth and natural; Glaze without dazzling floating light; Fine lines can be seen by rubbing animal skin; The soil rust on the truly unearthed antique ceramics penetrates into the porcelain, while the soil rust on the imitation can be removed after repeated wiping; Listen, porcelain has different sounds because of its age, raw materials and kiln mouth. It should be noted that sometimes counterfeiters will adopt the method of "splicing" in order to achieve the effect of confusing the fake with the real, that is, a piece of porcelain is spliced by two parts, which usually happens on some incomplete genuine products.
Among the porcelains, blue-and-white porcelains and enameled porcelains are particularly precious, but there are not many genuine products. It can be said that nine of the ten pieces in circulation now are fakes or defective products. Fans who are interested in collecting such antiques should be especially careful.
2. Jade
There are many sayings in China traditional culture that treatment can protect, soothe the nerves and ward off evil spirits. In recent years, the price of ancient jade has remained high. Ancient jade generally includes handed down jade and unearthed jade. The jade handed down from generation to generation, that is, this piece of jade, has largely maintained its original color after several generations of collection and play. These jades have a certain history to follow, and we can prove them one by one from the aspects of jade types, patina, provenance and technology. The other is unearthed jade, which was unearthed in recent years and entered the market for some reasons. Because it is buried underground for a long time, it is usually dark because of the influence of groundwater and soil environment. Dark colors are divided into blood infiltration, copper infiltration, soil infiltration and mercury infiltration. If it is really an ancient jade unearthed after years of burial, if you smell it carefully, it will have some earthy taste, while those soaked in chemical medicine will have a pungent taste. There are also particularly cruel counterfeiters who will heat jade and directly poke it into animals to form blood seepage. In this case, it is necessary to distinguish from the surface crack and HongLing texture of jade. In addition, the patina of jade is also a very important identification point. The patina formed by ancient jade in the long historical process is very natural and beautiful, but the patina processed by people will inevitably be a bit loose, and it is difficult to be completely natural. Look carefully, there will always be a feeling of dissatisfaction.
3. Calligraphy and painting
To identify calligraphy and painting collections, we should observe and identify them from the aspects of paper, ink/color, painting style and smooth brushwork. First of all, you should have a good understanding of the author's styles and skills in different periods. It's best to look at some of his works that have been confirmed as authentic in museums and other places, understand his habits, and even observe his seals carefully. Sometimes, imitators may copy the author's style of painting and calligraphy quite well, but when using seals, they leave flaws because of inkpad. Paper is a link that is easily forged. Historical traces such as yellowing, breakage and wrinkling are common old-fashioned methods. Generally speaking, the ancients paid attention to using ink, especially the masters, who all collected fine ink. Even after the vicissitudes of history, if you smell it carefully, you can still distinguish the comfortable fragrance of good ink from the slightly pungent smell of modern imitation ink. In addition, you need to know something about the historical process of the materials used in painting and calligraphy. For example, before the Tang Dynasty, there were only scrolls and murals, and after the Tang Dynasty, there were vertical axes; There were cloth murals (silk-faced wooden frames) in the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties. Picture frames were introduced into China only after the Republic of China. Knowing these historical knowledge can help you easily see through when you are fooled by the seller. There is another situation that needs attention, that is, "old paper and old ink make new paintings." At this time, it all depends on how much you know about writers.
Generally speaking, some tools are needed to identify antiques, such as magnifying glasses, spotlights and flashlights. When you look at them carefully, you should take care of every part. When you use a flashlight, you should observe it from different angles. Some collections have a designated observation angle when they are identified. These are preliminary means, and more detailed identification requires the use of some modern instruments, such as spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, to analyze and determine the composition and age of the collection.
Matters needing attention
You still have to go to a professional store to buy antique collections. You are experienced and have a good reputation in the industry. If your appraisal ability is limited, ask an expert to appraise it, but pay attention to it, trust it, but don't be superstitious. Especially for high-value collections, it is best to invite experts from different channels to identify them. A typical case can be seen in the so-called "golden jade" case that borrowed more than one billion yuan some time ago.
Go to various markets and museums. Generally speaking, there are many genuine products in museums and many fakes in the market. Compare the differences between them. Pay attention to where the real thing is and what its characteristics are; Fake? Where is the fake? Infer its falsification method. Try to be "confident".