Chapter 57

It can be said that Gongchun is the patriarch of the purple clay pot industry. Those who appreciate and collect purple clay pots would be considered amateurs if they do not know Gongchun's reputation.

Gongchun created many styles of purple clay pots, among which the tree knot pot is a relatively famous one.

According to some historical records, Gongchun once studied pot-making under an old monk in a temple. However, his talent was so outstanding that he soon surpassed his teacher.

During his studies, he used the tree knots from a large ginkgo tree beside the temple as the pattern for the pot's surface. Without suitable tools, he carved wood into molds and sharpened bamboo into knives, using his fingers to smooth the surface of the pot.

Such a pot looked very rough and simple. However, after it was fired, it appeared ancient and charming, like the bronze artifacts from the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, with a dark golden color, like copper and iron, and a unique style.

This ancient and simple beauty was even more captivating and praiseworthy.

From then on, Gongchun's reputation soared, and the tree knot pot became a rare and famous pot. During the Qing Dynasty, many nobles collected a wide range of purple clay pots, with detailed records, but they all lacked a Gongchun pot, and many regretted it for their entire lives.

Of course, the famous pots made by Gongchun himself were certainly very rare. However, over the generations, many master pot-makers, out of admiration for Gongchun, also replicated many tree knot pots.

It is unknown whether this tree knot pot was made by a master pot-maker.

Qixiang, lost in thought, did not hesitate to unscrew the lid of the purple clay pot and take the pot out of the box to examine it.

To digress, there are certain techniques to examining a pot. It is important to separate the body from the lid before appreciating it. Otherwise, if you pick up the pot with the lid and flip it to see the bottom, you will definitely have a tragedy if you do not pay attention to the lid.

If the lid falls to the ground and shatters, the pot is mostly ruined.

This is a lesson learned from the experiences of predecessors, who paid a heavy price to summarize it, and it cannot be ignored.

Qixiang was very careful and would not make such a low-level mistake. After picking up the pot, he first examined the handle and the base of the pot...

Generally, purple clay pots, like calligraphy and paintings, have inscriptions.

These inscriptions are equivalent to modern trademarks, often containing enough information to help determine the origin and authenticity of the item.

To be honest, Qixiang's first impression of this purple clay pot was good. When he picked it up, the weight was just right, neither too light nor too heavy, and very comfortable. Especially the chestnut-colored surface, which was ancient and elegant, like withered vines and old trees, had a special charm.

After seeing many uniform and conventional teapots, a purple clay pot with a unique shape like the tree knot pot naturally stood out and was very impressive.

This pot had a lot of charm, and Qixiang felt it should be the work of a master. After a moment, he found two small seal characters under the handle.

"True Record!"

Qixiang, lost in thought, thought for a moment, then put the pot down and picked up the lid to examine it, mainly looking at the inner wall of the lid. As expected, a small stamp appeared inside the lid.

"Shouzhen..."

Qixiang's eyes narrowed, and then he smiled and said, "This is a pot by the late Qing and early Republic of China purple clay master Bingxin Dao Ren Cheng Shouzhen, right?"

"...Not bad, you have a good eye."

Zhu Shen glanced at Qixiang and then teased, "Little Zhu, you should learn from others. Don't always indulge in eating, drinking, and playing, causing trouble, and being a wasteful second-generation rich man, a parasite of society."

The others looked at each other, their expressions very strange.

Although Zhu Shen's words seemed to make sense, it felt awkward coming from him.

"Get lost, do you have the right to criticize me?" Zhu Qiao was furious, "Who doesn't know what kind of person you are? Living a life of debauchery, suffering from kidney deficiency every night, and you have the nerve to criticize others?"

Zhu Shen was not pleased. He pressed his hands on the armrests of the chair, stood up on the coffee table, and shouted, "You're the one with kidney deficiency. I can stand tall and urinate three feet, can you?"

"I'll watch you urinate and have someone measure it." Zhu Qiao crossed his arms and sneered.

"Uh..." Zhu Shen was taken aback, awkwardly withdrew his hands, and then touched his nose, turning around and saying, "Well, what... Since you know this is Cheng Shouzhen's pot, tell him how precious it is."

"I know that without you telling me." Zhu Qiao laughed, "A pot from the Republic of China era, you actually have the nerve to show it off, aren't you ashamed?"

"Lai Fu..."

Zhu Qiao lifted his chin and said, "Go to my father's room and bring out the six-sided pot by Shi Dabing that he keeps in the drawer, and let someone see it."

"Sure, Young Master." The middle-aged man nodded with a smile.

"Do you know Shi Dabing?" Zhu Qiao then shouted, "A master pot-maker from the Ming Dynasty, who made pots for the emperor, ten times more skilled than Cheng Shouzhen..."

Qixiang couldn't help but sneer. Shi Dabing was from the Wanli period, a folk artist, and although his famous pots were sold directly to high-ranking officials, he was definitely not a royal craftsman who made pots for the emperor.

Of course, knowing is one thing, but Qixiang did not intend to correct it. He also wanted to see what Shi Dabing's famous pot looked like. After all, in terms of value, Shi Dabing's pots were indeed more valuable than Cheng Shouzhen's.

Even from an artistic perspective, Shi Dabing's pots were superior to Cheng Shouzhen's.

From the mid-Qing Dynasty onwards, the quality of purple clay masters declined. They were more conservative and less innovative, and their craftsmanship became increasingly sloppy.

It wasn't until the Republic of China era that modern masters, influenced by Western art, began to innovate and change, becoming the mainstream. For a time, masters and great artists emerged in large numbers, their skills reaching perfection, and their fame spreading far and wide.

Therefore, sometimes, the works of modern masters in the auction market can be much more valuable than those of many late Qing masters.

Antiques are like this; they are not judged by age but by quality.

"Hah, so what if it's a pot by Shi Dabing?"

However, the argument between the two did not end. Zhu Shen sneered, "When did I say this pot is valuable because it was made by a master?"

"Huh?"

Everyone was stunned, feeling puzzled.

According to common sense, a master means quality, and quality means value. Especially for famous masters, their works are often unparalleled and thus more valuable.

This is almost a common sense, even a fixed equation. But now Zhu Shen said that the pot is valuable not because it was made by a master, which naturally seemed strange.

"Hmm hmm hmm hmm..." Zhu Shen jumped down from the coffee table, his eyes full of pride, "Do you think my treasure is that simple? How shallow!"

"What can a broken pot possibly have?" Zhu Qiao was also skeptical.

"That's why I say you are ignorant." Zhu Shen mocked, "Don't you know the principle that a skilled warrior does not seek glory? Do you really think the more famous something is, the more valuable it is?"

"Of course... nonsense," Zhu Qiao was about to argue but suddenly thought of something and immediately changed his words, "Of course not."

"It's not." Zhu Shen beamed, standing tall, "This pot is the same. Even if it's not a master's work, it is valuable for its intrinsic value."

"Intrinsic value?" Everyone was confused, not understanding what intrinsic value the pot could have.

Zhu Qiao frowned, examined the pot for a while, and then asked Qixiang in a low voice, "What intrinsic value does this pot have?"

Qixiang couldn't explain it and couldn't help but pick up the tree knot pot again, studying it carefully. After a moment, he sniffed and his frown eased, then he turned around and said, "Do you have boiling water?"

"What do you need boiling water for?" Zhu Qiao was puzzled.

"Huh?"

Zhu Shen looked at Qixiang in surprise, "How did you know?"

"Know what?"

The others looked at each other, even more confused.

Qixiang smiled, glanced around, and saw an electric kettle on the coffee table. He quickly heated some water. In a short while, the water was boiling, and a light mist rose.

"Don't move, let me do it..."

Zhu Shen suddenly reached out, blocking Qixiang to the side, then rolled up his sleeves, picked up a pot of boiling water, and said proudly, "Little Zhu, open your eyes and witness the miracle."

As he spoke, Zhu Shen tilted his hand and poured the boiling water into the tree knot pot.

"What are you doing?" Zhu Qiao was puzzled.

"Hehe, wait a minute, and you'll see." Zhu Shen closed the lid and said with a showy attitude, "In one minute, I'll show you something. Just a reminder, be prepared, no matter what you see, don't be surprised..."

"Ha ha!" Zhu Qiao smiled sarcastically, "You're not going to tell me that in one minute, the water will turn into oil, are you?"

"...I won't argue with you." Zhu Shen huffed, "I'll make you admit it."

The two glared at each other, sparks flying.

Little Ding quietly walked over and whispered to Qixiang, "Boss Qi, what's going on?"

"Nothing." Qixiang smiled, keeping it a secret, "You'll know in a minute."

In a moment, a minute passed, and Zhu Shen couldn't wait. He took two cups, poured the boiling water from the pot into them, and took a sip, grinning, "Fragrant, really fragrant."

"Putting on a show!" Zhu Qiao rolled his eyes, his face full of disdain. In fact, his eyes were fixed on the other cup of water, his expression very serious.

After all, he was just a playboy and a wasteful person, not a fool.

Zhu Shen was clearly showing off, which meant this purple clay pot was definitely not simple. And it seemed the secret was in the boiling water...

Thinking of this, Zhu Qiao didn't hesitate, picked up the other cup of water, sniffed it, and took a small sip. In that instant, his face changed dramatically...

...

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