47: Chapter 47 LC-17

The dark carpet swallowed the sound of footsteps, leaving only hushed conversations in the air.

Two or three dozen exhibits were scattered like isolated islands, each enjoying its own independent space.

Beside every exhibit stood a staff member dressed in a dark suit or a qipao, standing silently with white gloves on, the wire of an earpiece clipped neatly along the collar of their attire.

Qiao Yichen followed half a step behind Teacher Song Qixiu, his gaze calmly sweeping across the entire exhibition hall.

The porcelain was warm and lustrous, the calligraphy and paintings diffused a gentle aura, and the jade pieces were cool and clear. Beside every exhibit stood a sign made of ebony, displaying information such as the item number, name, era, provenance, material, and dimensions—much like a product manual.

"Xiao Qiao," Teacher Song Qixiu paused in front of a hanging scroll, his voice very low, "Go look for yourself. Remember, look more, ask more, and comment less. If anything catches your eye, note down the item number and then find a staff member."

"I understand, Teacher Song. Please attend to your business." Qiao Yichen nodded slightly, watching Teacher Song walk toward a painting table surrounded by several elderly gentlemen. Then, he turned and merged into the sparse crowd.

He did not head straight for the furniture section. Instead, he first stopped for half a minute in front of a small Jun ware celadon-glazed cup, then lingered briefly beside two gilded bronze Buddha statues, looking exactly like a young man touring a museum. His pace was relaxed, and his eyes still held a trace of curiosity.

After circling the exhibition hall for a little less than half the perimeter, he "naturally" drifted toward the furniture display area against the wall.

Then, Qiao Yichen saw it—the huanghuali inlaid with hundred treasures flower and bird pattern square corner cabinet. It stood silently under the spotlight, serene and elegant, radiating a deep, intrinsic luster refined by the passage of time. Its height of 160 centimeters made it exceptionally tall among the surrounding exhibits, and the flower and bird pattern created with the hundred treasures inlay shimmered delicately under the soft light.

The staff member beside the display stand immediately turned his gaze toward him the moment he stopped, giving a slight nod with a respectful posture.

Qiao Yichen did not speak immediately. His gaze first landed on the ebony information plaque, clearly engraving the lines of text into his mind:

Item Number: LC-17

Item Name: huanghuali inlaid with hundred treasures flower and bird pattern square corner cabinet

Era Annotation: Late Qing Dynasty to Republic of China (Ming Style Imitation)

Provenance Note: Private collection in Europe, circulated overseas in the early 20th century, recently returned to the country.

Material Note: The main body is made of huanghuali wood; the surface decoration utilizes multi-colored materials such as mother-of-pearl, jade, lapis lazuli, and ivory, presenting a flower and bird design using the 'hundred treasures inlay' technique.

Dimensions: H 160cm, W 80cm, D 45cm.

Condition Report: Overall structure is stable, no structural repairs. Cabinet doors open and close smoothly; bronze fittings are original and possess natural patina. The hundred treasures inlay section is complete, with extremely slight signs of material aging in localized areas that do not affect the overall visual effect. Wood grain is clear and flowing; surface patina is warm and moist.

Accompanying Documents: Includes an appraisal certificate from an authoritative overseas institution, the certificate's conclusion being '20th-century imitation of Ming-style furniture, exquisitely crafted, possessing decorative and collectible value.'

Private Negotiation Status: Available for Private Negotiation (Please consult the on-site Client Manager).

He lingered for a long time on the words "Ming Style Imitation" and "20th-century imitation," which were exactly the same as the information he had received. After staring for a while, he turned toward the staff member.

"Hello," he began, his voice calm, "May I trouble you for some information?"

"Please speak, sir." The staff member stepped half a pace forward and leaned slightly.

Qiao Yichen pointed to the information plaque: "The era marking here, and the certificate's conclusion of '20th-century imitation,' are the main basis provided by the consignor, is that correct?"

"Yes, sir," the staff member replied clearly and professionally. "The description and dating of all exhibits at this Private Negotiation Fair strictly adhere to the collection information, provenance records, and relevant appraisal documents provided by the consignor. For this LC-17, the certificate conclusion provided by the consignor from the authoritative overseas institution is explicit. We have marked it accordingly."

He paused and added, "Of course, purely judging by the object itself, its use of huanghuali material and the hundred treasures inlay technique are both of the highest quality; it is an extremely exquisite piece of furniture."

Qiao Yichen nodded, indicating his understanding. Then, he made his second request: "If I wanted to examine some details, such as the location of the mortise and tenon joints, or the treatment of the inlay edges, would that be convenient?"

"Certainly, that is your right." The staff member moved aside and took out a brand-new pair of white gloves and a pen-shaped cold-light flashlight from a minimalist auxiliary cabinet next to the display stand, handing them over with both hands. "Please put on the gloves. I can assist you if you need to examine any part."

"Thank you."

Qiao Yichen put on the gloves. He did not move immediately but stepped back half a pace, gazing quietly at the cabinet. The lines of the cabinet body were crisp and upright; the proportions of the shoulders, belly, and legs were just right, without any sense of heaviness or forced cleverness. Even though it was preemptively labeled an 'imitation,' the quiet, dignified aura it possessed was absolutely incomparable to modern furniture.

He stood there for over ten seconds before stepping forward. With the assistance of the staff member, he gently pulled open the cabinet door. A beam of cold white light probed the interior, landing precisely on the mortise and tenon joint inside the door hinge—a swallowtail tenon, rigorously crafted. The wood at the joint showed natural wear and patina from years of use and handling, smooth and moist, completely lacking the stiffness or deliberate imperfection of a newly made imitation.

The light beam moved, sweeping across the drawer bottom. The wood grain flowed like a stream, also covered in a soft, old glow.

Finally, the light rested on the edge of the flower and bird pattern created by the hundred treasures inlay. The junction between the mother-of-pearl and jade inlays and the wood base was seamless, with extremely fine shrinkage marks caused by over a century of temperature and humidity changes, yet the inlays themselves were firmly attached without any looseness.

He examined it closely, but his movements were unhurried, occasionally adjusting his line of sight according to the angle of the light.

A few minutes later, he turned off the flashlight, stood up straight, and removed the gloves to hand them back.

"It is evident that the craftsmanship is indeed meticulous," he commented.

The staff member took back the gloves and flashlight and replied with a smile: "Yes, the consignor also mentioned that although this is an imitation, it was finely made back then."

Qiao Yichen took one last look at the standing cabinet, then turned to the staff member and asked the most crucial question:

"If I have an intention to learn more about this piece, what is the next procedure?"

The staff member understood his meaning and lowered his voice: "Sir, I will notify the Client Manager responsible for this exhibit of your interest and the item number. Shortly, the Client Manager will contact you to arrange further private discussions. For now, you may proceed to the tea break and rest area on the east side of the inner hall, or continue your tour."

"Understood, thank you." Qiao Yichen nodded his acknowledgment, said no more, and turned to leave.

He did not immediately head to the rest area but continued to stroll slowly through the exhibition hall. Passing the calligraphy and painting section, he saw Teacher Song gathered with Li Zhenhua, Zhou Qiaozhen, and others around an unrolled handscroll, discussing something in low voices with focused expressions.

Beside the Jun ware small cup in the porcelain section, two or three elderly gentlemen with steady demeanors were also standing guard.