171: Chapter 171 contains an error; please correct me if I'm wrong.

He looked at the Blue and White vase first.

The landscape and figures painted on the body were indeed fluid; the distant mountains, nearby rocks, and traveling figures were rendered with sparse, elegant brushwork, and at first glance, it truly possessed the charm of an Official Kiln piece.

But Hu Tian's gaze quickly fell upon the glaze. While that layer of lustrous sheen was certainly beautiful, it revealed an indescribable "lightness," as if something was missing, or perhaps as if something was added that shouldn't be there.

He shifted his gaze to the base of the vase. The six-character mark, "Made in the Yongzheng Reign of the Great Qing Dynasty," was written with neat strokes, but between the start and finish of each stroke, it lacked a certain unhurried composure. It looked more like characters written by a copyist after repeated deliberation, rather than something written naturally by an artisan who handled such things daily and possessed complete confidence.

Hu Tian straightened his back, said nothing, and stepped to the side toward the tri-colored pottery figurine.

This time, he bent lower, his eyes almost parallel to the tabletop, examining the mounted warrior figurine from the side.

The overall shape of the pottery figurine was robust. The rider's figure was tall and straight, with deep-set eyes and a high nose, bearing the distinct features of a Hu person. The horse's four hooves were in motion, its mane was distinct, and the tri-colored glaze flowed and blended together. The green, yellow, and white colors shimmered under the light, with a restrained and warm luster, unlike the gaudy, surface-level shine of modern imitations.

His gaze followed the horse's belly downward, finding that subtle trace of repair—a crack about one centimeter long at the base of the horse's tail, carefully filled with colored paste and plaster. The technique was skillful; if one were not extremely careful, it would be almost impossible to detect.

He shifted his gaze to the base of the pottery figurine. There were slight traces of soil attached to the bottom, yellowish-red in color—the characteristic color of Guanzhong loess. The soil infiltration into the texture of the pottery body was natural and fluid, not something easily replicated by artificial aging.

Hu Tian already had an idea in his mind, but his expression remained calm as he turned and walked toward the Famille Rose covered bowl on the far right.

This covered bowl was not large; the bowl body was about the width of two palms cupped together. The lid was round, the knob was exquisite, and broken-branch flowers were painted on all four sides of the bowl. The pinks, light purples, tender yellows, and pale greens were colored like a spring scene, elegant and not vulgar.

Hu Tian picked up the covered bowl with light and steady movements, holding it in his palm to weigh it.

The weight in his hand was just right—neither too light nor too heavy. The clay body was delicate, and he could feel a warmth akin to jade through his fingertips.

He turned the bowl over. The six-character mark, "Made in the Yongzheng Reign of the Great Qing Dynasty," was written in regular script in Blue and White. The handwriting was neat and upright, and every stroke revealed the characteristic regularity and composure of the Yongzheng Official Kiln. Compared to the cramped mark on the base of the Blue and White vase, the difference in quality was immediately apparent.

He leaned closer to the rim of the bowl, tilted it slightly toward the cold light in the corner, and let the light sweep across the glazed surface of the bowl from the side.

That layer of glaze, under the side light, almost seemed like something alive. The luster was warm and full, the color was even, and there were no flaws such as pinholes, glaze shrinkage, or bubbles. It was the kind of glaze quality that only top-tier kiln workers could fire under the best kiln conditions.

Hu Tian gently placed the covered bowl back on the tabletop, straightened up, and slowly turned around to face the people waiting for him to speak.

Shen Huairen's expression at this moment was somewhat subtle; his brows were slightly furrowed, but there was a hint of disapproval at the corners of his mouth, as if he felt that Elder Qin letting an unknown young man put on such a pretentious show here was merely a performance.

Among the people beside him, someone nudged the person next to them with their elbow, whispering in a low voice, their eyes filled with undisguised curiosity and a hint of wanting to watch a show.

Professor Ma Yunhe stood there with his arms crossed, his expression calm, but his eyes were focused—the kind of seriousness that only appears when someone who has seen too many people and too many things encounters something truly worth paying attention to.

Professor Lin tilted his head slightly, the smile on his face faint, carrying the patient anticipation of an elder for a junior.

Hu Tian cleared his throat and began to speak.

His tone was unhurried, and his voice was not loud, yet it could be heard very clearly in the not-so-spacious room.

"Elder Qin, Professor Ma, Professor Lin, allow me to share my thoughts. If I am mistaken, I ask the seniors to correct me."

He first cast his gaze toward the Blue and White vase on the left.

"This Blue and White Prunus Vase with landscape and figure patterns on the left has a regular shape, fluid brushwork, and an overall impressive presence, but I feel there are some issues with a few details."

He paused, then continued: "First is the glaze. The glaze on this vase is a bit too lustrous, and the light reflection feels 'new,' which deviates somewhat from the kiln characteristics of the Yongzheng era. The glaze of Yongzheng Official Kiln pieces is usually warm, restrained, and has the texture of 'old jade,' whereas the glaze on this vase is a bit too superficial. Second is the base mark. The brushwork of the mark is somewhat constrained; it lacks the natural confidence that Official Kiln artisans possessed from day-to-day practice, appearing more like a copy. Taken together, this vase should be a fine piece from a private kiln in the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty imitating the Yongzheng Official Kiln. It was imitated quite carefully, but it is, after all, an imitation."

Professor Ma Yunhe nodded slightly, and Professor Lin also gave a gentle nod. The two exchanged glances but said nothing, signaling for Hu Tian to continue.

Hu Tian turned his gaze toward the tri-colored pottery figurine in the center.

"I believe this tri-colored mounted warrior figurine in the center is an authentic piece, and it has quite a significant provenance."

Hearing Hu Tian's words, Professor Ma Yunhe's brows twitched, Professor Lin showed an interested look, and Elder Qin stroked his beard, waiting for Hu Tian to speak.

"For the identification of Tang Tri-color pottery, besides the glaze color, it is even more important to look at the clay body and the soil infiltration. The bottom of this figurine has attached loess, yellowish-red in color, which is characteristic of Guanzhong loess. The way the soil has infiltrated the pottery body is natural; artificial aging cannot replicate this level of penetration. Furthermore, during the prosperous Tang Dynasty, although the tri-colored glaze was brilliant, the luster was inward-looking, not outward-scattering. This figurine is exactly like that, with a warm and restrained glaze luster. The rider's facial features are also typical of a Hu person, with deep-set eyes and a high nose, which aligns with the historical background of the prosperous Tang Dynasty when Silk Road exchanges were frequent and Hu images entered Central Plains art in large numbers. Although there is a subtle repair at the base of the horse's tail, the flaw does not obscure the jade, and the overall condition is quite superior."

He paused for a moment and calmly added: "I estimate this Tang Tri-color Hu person mounted warrior figurine to be an excavated piece from a tomb in Guanzhong during the prosperous Tang Dynasty. In the market, Tang Tri-color mounted warrior figurines of the same condition sell for around 6.5 to 8 million RMB, and those of superior condition can go even higher."

When these words fell, there was a moment of silence in the room.

The expressions of the people beside Shen Huairen changed slightly; they were no longer as indifferent as before. Some quietly sat up straight, their eyes becoming serious.

Professor Ma Yunhe's mouth twitched as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't, his gaze deepening.

Professor Lin gently stroked the prayer beads on his wrist, his expression thoughtful.

Hu Tian finally let his gaze fall on that Famille Rose covered bowl.

His voice remained steady, yet unconsciously, it carried a touch of imperceptible solemnity.

"Lastly, I believe this Yongzheng Famille Rose covered bowl with broken-branch flower patterns is the most valuable among the three items on the table today."

As soon as these words were spoken, Shen Huairen was visibly stunned and subconsciously took another look at the small covered bowl.

"The Famille Rose variety matured during the Yongzheng era. The Yongzheng Emperor himself had extremely high aesthetic requirements for porcelain. The Famille Rose from the Yongzheng Official Kiln represents the pinnacle of the entire Qing Dynasty in terms of clay body, glaze color, and brushwork. This covered bowl has just the right weight, a delicate clay body, and when tapped, produces a clear sound with a slight echo—the hallmark of superior porcelain."

He paused slightly and continued: "The six-character regular script mark on the base, 'Made in the Yongzheng Reign of the Great Qing Dynasty,' is written in Blue and White. The handwriting is neat and composed, and the brushwork is steady. Compared to the cramped mark on the Blue and White vase, the difference in quality is immediately apparent. More importantly, under cold side light, the glaze luster of this covered bowl is extremely even, without any pinholes or glaze shrinkage flaws. This kind of glaze quality cannot be produced in every kiln firing; only when the artisan is in the best state and the kiln temperature is most stable can such an object be created. Furthermore, the broken-branch flowers on the bowl body have distinct layers of Famille Rose color, and the subtle gradients of the petals are handled extremely naturally. The fine brushwork is clearly not a level that private kiln painters could reach."

Hu Tian said this, sweeping his gaze across everyone's faces, his voice steady and clear: "Overall, I believe this Famille Rose covered bowl with broken-branch flower patterns is an authentic piece produced by the Yongzheng Official Kiln, and its condition is superb. For a Yongzheng Famille Rose Official Kiln covered bowl of this condition, in recent years at several large auctions, the transaction price has never been lower than 10 million, and high-end ones can reach 35 million or even over 45 million."

The words fell.

A brief silence descended upon the room.

The expression on Shen Huairen's face was no longer the initial disapproval. He stared at the small Famille Rose covered bowl, something complex flashing through his eyes. His throat moved, but he said nothing.

The people beside him had various expressions; some had their mouths slightly open, some lowered their gaze to re-examine the covered bowl, and some exchanged glances, but none spoke.

Professor Lin slowly straightened his back, raised his hand to take off his glasses, and took out a cloth to gently wipe them—a habitual action, but while wiping, a distinct smile had already appeared at the corners of his mouth.

Professor Ma Yunhe was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, his voice not loud but carrying some weight.

"Well said."

He paused and added: "The judgment on the Blue and White vase is consistent with my view—it is a fine imitation. As for the tri-colored pottery figurine, I was also inclined to believe it was authentic. Regarding the point Little Hu made about the soil infiltration, I have observed it, and it is indeed a characteristic of Guanzhong loess. That point was grasped very accurately."

He finally let his gaze fall on the Famille Rose covered bowl, pondered for a moment, and said: "To tell the truth, before coming here today, I didn't pay enough attention to this covered bowl; most of my attention was drawn by the tri-colored figurine in the middle. Little Hu's words have made me take another serious look at it."

Having said that, he bent down, picked up the covered bowl, turned it over in his hands, and examined it carefully for a full two minutes before gently placing it back on the tabletop. He straightened up and nodded, saying no more, but that nod itself was already a clear attitude.

Elder Qin listened to the whole process with a chuckle from the side. At this moment, he stroked the short beard on his chin, his gaze lingering on Hu Tian for a while, his smile deepening.

"Good, good, very well said."

He spoke slowly, his voice filled with genuine gratification. "I have been looking at this Famille Rose covered bowl myself for several days and always felt it was unusual, but I couldn't be certain for a while. Today, hearing everyone's opinions, especially Little Hu's detailed explanation, I feel much more at ease."

He turned his head to look at Professor Ma Yunhe and asked: "Professor Ma, regarding these three items, if we are to conduct further professional appraisal in the future, what aspects should we pay attention to?"