This is an ordinary Western antique store that mainly sells Western oil paintings and sculptures, as well as some miscellaneous items.
Of course, there are also many modern handicrafts and tourist souvenirs.
Like many antique stores nowadays, the business of this antique store is also very bleak, and there are very few people.
This is evident by the thin layer of dust on many items in the store.
Obviously, very few people came in to admire and buy these things during this time, and no one touched them, so they collected a layer of dust.
Business is so bleak that antique shop owners have lost their morale and are even too lazy to wipe and clean every day.
In an antique store.
Xiao Ran and the others admired the many goods displayed here with great interest, and would discuss them in low voices from time to time.
Sandel, the owner of the antique shop, stood a little behind, watching Xiao Ran's every move, his eyes full of anticipation.
Before, he tried to follow Xiao Ran and introduce to him the goods in the store.
Needless to say, the main purpose was to see what Xiao Ran could find so he could adapt accordingly.
However, Xiao Ran chose to refuse and no explanation was needed.
In desperation, Sandel could only stand aside and watch.
At this time, he was in a very conflicted mood. He hoped that Xiao Ran could buy more things, but also hoped that he would not find any big leaks.
Soon, ten minutes passed.
Xiao Ran has seen a lot of oil paintings and sculptures, as well as a few miscellaneous things.
But he just glanced at it and didn't focus on any piece of antique art. He didn't even bother to ask about the price.
While he was talking, he came to a bronze sculpture and looked at it.
After just one glance, he suddenly let out a surprised sound.
Then, he turned to look at Elaine.
"Dear, look at this bronze statue. Is it the spirit of the undead from Rodin's "The Gates of Hell"?"
"If I remember correctly, the prototype of this bronze statue is located under Dante's left foot in "The Gates of Hell""
Elaine, who was admiring an oil painting on the wall, immediately turned her head and looked over.
The moment she saw the bronze statue clearly, she nodded immediately.
"Yes, this bronze sculpture does come from "Gate of Hell", and it is a very important image of the undead in "Gate of Hell""
"In fact, many of Rodin's sculptures can be found in "The Gates of Hell"."
"The famous "The Thinker" is derived from the image of the poet Dante in "The Gates of Hell", but it is enlarged three times."
As she spoke, she also came to the bronze sculpture and began to admire it with interest.
This bronze sculpture depicts a naked male soul struggling desperately in hell.
He was covered in scars and stood on the bronze base with his legs bent. He raised his head and looked up at the sky in despair. His expression was painful and ferocious, and his eyes were full of sadness and prayer.
One hand stretched out to the sky, its skinny palm was like a chicken's claw, trying to grab a life-saving straw so that it could use its strength to climb out of hell and return to the world!
The characters shown in this sculpture are full of tragedy, but also have a gloomy and gloomy atmosphere, which even gives people an uncalmable feeling of terror.
Looking at this bronze sculpture, everyone's mood was slightly affected and became a little gloomy.
The antique shop immediately became quiet and there was no sound.
After a while, Xiao Ran woke up first.
"This bronze sculpture looks pretty good, and the carving skills are quite superb."
"I just don't know, which sculptor is this work?"
Having said this, he suddenly turned his head to look at Sandel behind him, and asked pretending to be curious:
"Sandel, can you tell me the origin of this bronze sculpture?"
"Where does it come from and which sculptor is it? Can you tell me about it?"
Upon hearing the inquiry, Sandel immediately looked at the bronze sculpture and stepped forward.
When he came closer, he quickly glanced at the sculpture before starting to introduce the situation.
"You're right, Xiao Ran, the characters in this bronze sculpture do come from Rodin's "Gates of Hell""
"But the sculptor who created the sculpture made some interpretations of his own."
"In "Hell's Gate", due to the setting of the environment, the posture of the undead image is more exaggerated and more desperate."
"As for the origin of this bronze sculpture, I bought it from a nearby street stall in May last year."
"According to the stall owner, the original owner of this bronze sculpture seems to be a teacher in the Literature Department of Boston College."
"The sculptor who created this bronze sculpture is unknown, and the author's signature is not found on the sculpture."
Listening to Sandel's introduction, Xiao Ran nodded slightly.
Next, he admired the bronze sculpture for a while and whispered to Elaine.
Then, he looked at Sandel again.
"Although the identity of the creator of this bronze statue is unknown, it is undeniable that this bronze sculpture does have a certain artistic level."
"Give me a quote. If the price is right, I am willing to accept this bronze sculpture."
"ah!"
With an exclamation, Sandel couldn't help but froze on the spot.
He never expected that Xiao Ran would actually fall in love with this work by an unknown sculptor and want to buy it.
Is this bronze sculpture the work of a famous artist? It’s worth a lot of money, but I just don’t know it!
Could it be that this sculpture was not made by an unknown sculptor, but by Rodin, the master of sculpture art, and is it Rodin's work?
Thinking of this, Sandel immediately looked at the sculpture a few more times and muttered.
Unfortunately, he didn't discover anything new.
This bronze sculpture is still the same as before, nothing special.
After hesitating for a moment, Sandel gave the offer.
"$15,000, Sean, if you can accept this price, this bronze sculpture will be yours."
After the words fell, Xiao Ran immediately shook his head and said:
"This price is too high, I can't accept it, up to 8,000 US dollars!"
"I can only see so much, Sandor, think about it."
Sander paused, then shook his head.
"Sorry, Sean, I can't accept this price."
"As you said, the artistry of this bronze sculpture is good, and its value shouldn't be so low!"
Xiao Ran looked at the bronze sculpture and then continued:
"Yes, this bronze sculpture has good artistic quality, but its origin is unknown. I don't know which sculptor it is."
"If the identity of the sculptor could be confirmed, its value might be higher, but unfortunately it cannot be done now."
"Since you can't accept the price, forget it and let me look at other things."
As he spoke, he looked at another bronze sculpture next to him.
It was an abstract expressionist sculpture. It was two twisted and broken iron rings connected together. I didn’t know what it was trying to express. I had no idea what it meant!
Seeing Xiao Ran change his gaze, Sandel regretted it a little.
When he received this bronze sculpture of the undead from "The Gates of Hell" last year, he only paid $500 for it.
If it is sold for $8,000, it will increase 16 times in one go!
Although 8,000 US dollars is not much, it is definitely a huge profit. It is very cost-effective no matter what!
In the current depressed market environment, if we keep this statue in the store, God knows when it will be sold!
Perhaps when the antique store closes down, this undead sculpture will still be displayed in the store eating dirt!
What is more important to me now than living?
Thinking of this, Sander immediately understood what he should do!
The next moment, he nodded helplessly and said:
"Okay, Sean, I'll sell you this bronze sculpture for $8,000."
"If possible, after the transaction is completed, I hope you can tell me your true opinion of this sculpture."
Xiao Ran looked back at this guy, then turned back and nodded with a smile.
"Okay, Sandel, $8,000, deal"
"I can agree to your request. After the transaction is completed, I will explain this bronze sculpture."
With that said, he bumped elbows with Sandel and finalized the deal.
