Chapter 548: Chapter 56: Emerging Talent
Six black boxes contained over fifty art pieces for this appreciation event.
President Qiu wiped his sweat and had someone turn the air conditioning down a few degrees, feeling waves of pride within. Those business people outside, who always claimed to be exceptionally shrewd, were completely in the dark about the art connoisseurs.
The appraiser had started sorting through the numerically coded items in the black boxes and their corresponding prices.
"Mr. President, your move just now was brilliant, especially with that mat. From beginning to end, no one asked who made it," When the mat was first brought in and listed for bidding, an appraiser from Huanqiu Company inquired about the mat’s material, size, origin, and weaver. But the boss revealed nothing, simply instructing to display it.
The intrinsic value of an art piece is quite related to its creator.
For example, a year ago, the boss acquired a manuscript from the contemporary master Kang Cheng. When the manuscript was obtained, the boss didn’t rush to sell it. Half a year later, Kang Cheng passed away in San Francisco, USA, and the manuscript’s value skyrocketed, fetching two to three times its original price.
Everyone pursues scarcity, particularly unique pieces from great masters or works from masters in their prime – the difference in value can be significant.
"My god, Mr. President, mat numbers 2 and 3, someone bid 300,000." Artworks are not antiques; most appraisal items this time were replicas, though crafted by masters, their prices wouldn’t be astronomical.
Of all the appraisal items, the most expensive was an 800,000 golden silk woven brocade quilt from the Late Qing imperial court.
The Purple Bamboo Mat, made by an unknown, woven from regular purple bamboo, fetching a price of 300,000 was really astounding. If Mao Dazhu knew about this price, he’d surely be green with regret.
"300,000?" Even Mr. Qiu was startled. But nobody complains about money burning their hands, needless to say, this appraisal event ended perfectly.
The mat was eventually framed in a locust wood box and delivered to the buyer. The specific transaction prices from regular appraisal events are unknown to the outside. Xiao Xian also didn’t know the mat sold for such a sky-high price.
As the departing crowd left the private club, Xiao Xian and Xuerou stood outside the parking garage, waiting for Mrs. Zeng to drive out.
Celebrity Wang Keke and her personal assistant also entered the garage. Wang Keke wore sunglasses, pouting, while her assistant held an umbrella over her, fanning her, continuing to coax, "Keke, don’t be mad. Next time your godfather can buy you a Myanmar Jade Mat, far more precious than any Purple Bamboo Mat."
"Precious my ass," the starlet blurted out, instantly shattering her pure image, "A damn mat woven out of bamboo, and I failed to get it even with a 200,000 bid. Really don’t know what kind of madman would pay such a high price for a mat."
With 200,000, one could buy a jade mat, yet failing to acquire a Purple Bamboo Mat? Such an astonishing price was beyond Xiao Xian and Xuerou’s expectations.
After Wang Keke and her assistant walked away, Xuerou tugged at Xiao Xian, "She said she didn’t get it for 200,000, so how much did that mat sell for? How much did you say Uncle Mao sold it for earlier?"
There’s no need to ponder the price. Had Xiao Xian or Mao Dazhu bought it themselves, they wouldn’t dare to bid such a price. Moreover, without the earlier demonstration, only a fool would spend a fortune on a mat woven by an unknown craftsman.
Car horns sounded from behind, and a black Hummer parked behind Xiao Xian and the others.
They stepped aside, and the car drove past.
A young man around twenty-five or twenty-six was driving, with starry eyes and thin lips, wearing a sapphire earring on his left ear. A dignified middle-aged man with flecks of grey at his temples sat in the back.
"Dad, why did you buy this mat?" The young man drove casually out of the parking lot, puzzled as to why his father, who’d never shown interest in art appreciation, would attend such an event on a day he was supposed to leave school.
"What do you think of this mat?" asked the middle-aged man in return.
The young driver glanced at the rearview mirror, peering through the locust wood box to check out the mat.
Both father and son were low-key and stayed out of the spotlight upon entering the Advanced Level Club, choosing to observe the mat presentation from the rear of the crowd.