"Everyone, please be quiet!"
When the time was up, the painting was returned to the platform paper, and Bi Ziyan glanced at the curious crowd.
He said loudly: "This painting is called "Three Saints". The old man in the middle is Kong Sheng, his disciple Yan Hui is on the left, and his disciple Zeng Shen is on the right."
"Bi Shangshu, who painted this painting?"
"have no idea!"
Bi Ziyan spread his hands and continued amidst everyone's disappointment: "But the words on the clothes of these three people were written by Zhao Mengfu. We can already confirm this from the characteristics of the calligraphy.
In addition, the last part of the Analects says, "Written by Wu Xing and Zhao Mengjin in the middle of the third year of Dade", which can be mutually verified.
The only doubt now is who painted this painting. "
"Secondly, this painting comes from the treasury of Prince Lu's Mansion. It is clearly recorded in the account details of the Treasure House of Confucius that it was given to King Lu by the Confucius Mansion in the eighth year of Jiajing."
"The rest of you can weigh it yourself!"
Everyone was stunned. They really didn't understand what Bi Ziyan asked them to weigh?
Let’s not say who painted this painting, but the entire Analects of Confucius inscribed by Zhao Mengfu is already priceless.
Secondly, this painting is on silk, and generally works on silk are already very valuable. Generally, only things that artists consider very precious will use silk.
Such as "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains", "Luo Shen Fu", "Han Palace at Spring Dawn", etc.
Among the ten famous paintings handed down from generation to generation, seven are on silk, and nine are on silk with fine brushwork. And this one happens to be on silk with fine brushwork, which shows how precious it is.
Thirdly, as Bi Ziyan just said, it was written by Zhao Mengfu in the third year of his reign, more than 300 years ago. Based on the combination of Confucius and Prince Lu’s mansions, I can make some bold guesses. It is very likely that this title was written by a certain derivative official. .
Only Duke Yan Sheng could invite Zhao Mengfu to do this.
Based on the above information, what else should I consider for this painting? Just bought it and went.
Especially those who seek literary fortune and hope that their descendants will become officials, they must definitely take pictures.
"The starting price is five thousand taels, and each increase in price must not be less than five hundred taels!"
hiss……
Everyone was stunned when they heard the price quoted by Bi Ziyan.
My mouth opened wide and I couldn't believe my ears.
You must know that the previous high-quality antiques all started at 500 taels. Except for the first piece of Tianfeng Tower, the others only cost around 5,000 taels at most.
In particular, Wen Zhengming's "Ancient Trees and Peaks" and Wang Chong's "Tiaoxi" were only sold for a thousand taels.
If not for this occasion, this kind of calligraphy and painting would only be worth two to three hundred taels of silver at most, and the price would only be achieved if it was bought by someone who loves it very much.
Even if this is an inscription by Zhao Mengfu, or perhaps a painting by a certain Yan Shenggong, it is tainted with the so-called "literary movement" and has survived for more than 300 years, and it may only start with a thousand taels.
But now Bi Ziyan directly quoted the base price of five thousand taels, which shocked them.
They have money, but they are not taken advantage of.
Everyone was in a dilemma. Let’s take the photo. The price is too high. Don’t take the photo. This may be a painting by a certain derivative company.
If the Kong family still existed, they would definitely spend a lot of money to take pictures and send them back to please the Kong family.
As long as the Kong family says a word, everything will be smooth sailing, whether in business or in politics for their descendants.
But now, although the imperial court still worships Confucius, the Confucius family has declined, so this painting is of little use.
Bi Ziyan glanced at the crowd, his eyes paused for a moment on one of the merchants, and then said loudly: "Don't you have any bids? If not, I will announce that the auction is over!"
"Master Bi, I will pay you five thousand and five taels!"
As soon as Bi Ziyan finished speaking, a deep voice sounded.
Everyone looked for his reputation and turned out to be a young man in his early thirties.
Who is this person? Why spend such a huge price to buy this picture of the Three Saints?
Before they could think about it, Bi Ziyan shouted: "Five thousand five hundred taels, is there anyone else who wants to bid?"
"Six thousand taels!"
"Six thousand five hundred taels!"
"Seven thousand taels!"
…
Someone made a bid, and some people who were waiting and watching also started to follow suit, but in an instant the price soared to 8,000 taels.
"Are you all crazy? Although it is a picture of the Three Saints, now..."
"Would it be possible to hang Zhanzhanwen at home and run it?"
"War off evil spirits!"
"Take pictures and send them back to Confucius Temple!"
"My family is a descendant of Yan Hui, so we must take pictures for your convenience!"
“The highest bidder gets it, no nonsense!”
…
The scene was noisy, and the price continued to rise. It did not calm down until it reached 30,000 taels, and the number of bidders dropped from the initial thirty or forty to six or seven.
"I will pay fifty thousand taels of silver."
A voice sounded, and it was the young man who made the initial bid, with a determined look on his face: "If anyone bids more, I will give up!"
Everyone was shaking their heads when they heard the price.
Suddenly raising the price by 20,000 taels and uttering cruel words, it would be damning if you could be fooled.
Seeing that everyone was silent, Bi Ziyan said in a deep voice: "This is the first time for fifty thousand taels!"
…
"Fifty thousand taels for the second time!"
…
"Fifty thousand taels for the third time!"
…
"Congratulations to the owner of Kong Yungang's family in Luoyang for shooting "Three Saints". Please complete the handover procedures within three days!"
Bi Ziyan responded in a deep voice.
Listening to Bi Ziyan's words, Kong Yungang's eyes narrowed, and a bad premonition arose in his heart.
Everyone was startled and suddenly realized, looking at the young man with amusement in their eyes.
Especially when Bi Ziyan directly named the Kong family in the end, this was tantamount to knocking on the branch of the Kong family. Perhaps the branch of the Kong family began to quietly stir up trouble again.
"Okay, this auction is over. If you have found treasures, please go to the Household Department to go through the handover procedures. Please hurry. We will meet again if we have the chance!"
After saying this, Bi Ziyan turned around and got off the platform.
Everyone also knew the rules and quickly walked outside the capital camp.
"Only sixty-eight items were auctioned. There are thousands of us, and they look down on us!"
"As you say, it's freezing cold and the sun will set soon. Can you bear it?"
"Things are rare and valuable. If 680 of these things come out today, can you still bid for such a high price?"
"The people in the Ministry of Finance are not stupid. After a few years of prosperity and stability, dozens of pieces will be produced every year, and each piece will fetch a price three or four times higher than now. Now there is no shortage of money in the national treasury."
"It's a pity that only three porcelains came out this time. It would be great if there were more!"
"Yes, all the official kiln porcelain from Taizu's time are top-notch. When they are sold overseas in the future, they will definitely cost a lot!"
"Not necessarily. Can those barbarians understand such high-end stuff? It's too expensive and they won't buy it. Ordinary ones are fine!"
"Huang Taiji's mount is so amazing. He actually wants to make it into donkey meat and burn it. I must buy one and try it!"
"Yes, he is a ruthless person and his brain is so damn flexible!"
"Let's go to the household department to complete the handover procedures!"
"Why are you so anxious? The Royal Bank of Commerce will open tomorrow, deposit the money in it, and then go to the Accounts Department to see the Accounts Department's reaction!"
…
During the discussion, the wealthy businessmen returned to Beijing.
