66: Was Chapter 66 a way of saving face for both of us?

He raised his head, his voice steady. "Looking further at the eye treatment of this Animal mask pattern, the Shang Dynasty typically used high-relief round carving for the eyes, whereas this piece features flat eyes in shallow bas-relief. The lines are indeed fluid, but there is a sense of deliberate craftsman's air in its imitation of antiquity, as if it were a mark of the era left by a craftsman attempting to replicate an old style."

After listening, Fang Jiye remained silent for a long time. His gaze lingered on the bronze jue for a while before he finally nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "A Spring and Autumn Period imitation... I hadn't actually considered it from that angle."

Fang Jiye continued to deliberate in a low voice, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the velvet cloth. His gaze remained fixed on the bronze jue, his expression thoughtful.

Su Huairen had already slowly set down his tea bowl, and his finger-stroking of his beard had stopped. His long eyebrows furrowed slightly as he silently replayed Hu Tian's words in his mind.

Having lived for more than half his life, he had seen countless collectors and scholars who claimed to be experts in bronzes. However, those who could describe the technical differences between Shang Dynasty mold casting and Spring and Autumn Period imitation so meticulously were few and far between. The young man before him was by no means ordinary.

Sun Qiming and Qian Siyuan, standing behind Professor Jiang and Professor Su, had both frozen with their notebooks in mid-air, their pens hovering without touching the paper.

Sun Qiming was completely stunned, his lips slightly parted as if wanting to say something but unable to find the words.

He had been studying bronze appraisal with his mentor for nearly five years and believed he had already grasped the basics. But Hu Tian's words, from the polishing of the mold seams to the eye treatment of the Animal mask pattern, were so precise in every detail that it was startling. Such level of observation and depth of knowledge simply exceeded his understanding.

Qian Siyuan's eyes were wide as he looked at Hu Tian with utter disbelief.

He had originally thought he was just here to take notes and record the appraisal conclusions of several veteran professors, but he hadn't expected to witness such a brilliant practical analysis. This young man's level was likely not much inferior to that of his own mentor.

The two looked at each other, both seeing the same shock and incredulity in the other's eyes.

Standing to the side, Director Zhang couldn't help but turn his head slightly, his gaze lingering on Hu Tian for a few extra seconds.

Although he didn't understand the intricacies of bronze appraisal, he could see the clues from the reactions of the three veteran professors. This young man truly had real skill, and at an extremely high level.

Director Zhang nodded inwardly; it seemed this Little Hu indeed possessed genuine talent.

Master Li, standing a bit further away, couldn't help but let a smile spread across his face.

Watching Hu Tian speak with such confidence and eloquence, he could hardly hide the surge of pride in his heart.

After all, this was the person he had strongly recommended to Director Zhang. To see him handle himself so calmly before three authoritative professors brought so much honor to his face.

The smile at the corners of his mouth became more pronounced as he thought to himself: This kid really didn't disappoint me. This discernment and depth of knowledge are top-tier in the entire industry.

For a moment, the room was so quiet that only the faint hum of the air conditioner could be heard.

Standing nearby, Jiang Peiyuan's expression was the one among them that had changed most noticeably.

His background was in ceramics research, and bronzes were not his primary focus. However, he had heard Hu Tian's clear and logically sound appraisal perfectly well, and his heart had been shaken more than once.

He looked at Fang Jiye and then at Su Huairen. Seeing that both of his old friends were still immersed in those words, he could no longer contain himself.

He stepped forward quickly and gave Hu Tian's forearm a light pat, his tone carrying a hint of impatience.

"Little Hu, let's put the matter of the bronze jue aside for a moment."

He raised his hand and pointed to the blue and white porcelain bottle next to it. "What about this piece? Is it Yongle or xuande? You tell us, Little Hu."

Hu Tian stepped closer and examined it for a moment. Then, extending a gloved finger, he traced the curve of the bottle's rim inch by inch. He then leaned down to bring his gaze close to the ring foot, looking at it for a full ten seconds.

The moment Hu Tian leaned down to stare at the ring foot, that familiar sensation surfaced in the depths of his consciousness. The Treasure Hunting Radar had automatically locked onto the object before him, and a stream of information quietly unfolded in his mind, clear and detailed.

[Item Name: Blue and White Interlocking Lotus Pattern Yuhuchun Bottle] [Era: ming dynasty, Yongle Period, produced by the Official Kiln approximately between 1403 and 1424 AD]

[Firing Technique: Utilizes the typical Yongle blue and white technique of the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Factory. The body clay is a blend of Macang clay and Kaolin, washed to a specific ratio, resulting in a dense, white body texture commonly known as 'Glutinous rice body'. The blue pigment is imported Su Ma Li Qing, with high iron and low manganese content, producing a rich and deep color. Local concentrations of iron elements form natural bleeding and dark brown crystalline spots, the so-called 'Iron rust spots'. This is the natural coloration of Yongle blue and white and cannot be replicated by manual imitation. The glaze is thick and lustrous, applied evenly, with a white-to-bluish tint, appearing light lake-green where the glaze accumulates. The form is upright with a flaring mouth, slender neck, rounded and full belly, and a slightly splayed base. The foot is neatly trimmed, and the unglazed foot-end reveals a fine white body. There is no mark on the base, consistent with the majority of Yongle Official Kiln pieces which do not bear year marks.]

[Provenance: Originally an imperial court piece of the ming dynasty, it flowed into the hands of the common people during the mid-Qing Dynasty. During the Daoguang period, it came into the possession of a collector from Jiangnan. It changed hands several times during the Republic of China period and was taken out of the country by a Japanese merchant during the War of Resistance. It later found its way into the hands of a European private collector. In the early nineties, it was purchased back through a specialized return channel by a Hong Kong auction house. After several private transfers, it finally entered the collection of its current owner twelve years ago and has not appeared publicly since.]

[Estimated Market Value: Based on recent domestic and international auction records, similar Yongle blue and white Yuhuchun bottles in complete condition have mostly sold in the range of 45 million to 120 million RMB. This piece is in excellent condition, with top-tier glaze and color, clear and natural Iron rust spots, and an intact form without repairs. The estimated market value is approximately 80 million to 100 million RMB. If it were to be auctioned in a special session on a top-tier domestic auction platform during a favorable market, breaking the hundred million mark is within reach.]

This stream of information flashed through his mind. In just a few seconds, Hu Tian had silently reviewed all the key details and felt confident.

He slowly straightened up, withdrew his gaze from the ring foot, and maintained his calm expression. His lips moved slightly as he spoke in a deep voice.

"Professor Jiang and Professor Su each have their own views, and in fact, neither is wrong."

Hu Tian straightened his posture, his tone peaceful yet certain. "This porcelain bottle was fired during the late Yongle period, but the artisan responsible for painting the patterns was likely someone who transitioned from the Yongle Official Kiln to the early xuande period."

A flash of surprise appeared in Su Huairen's eyes, and he unconsciously leaned forward slightly.

Hu Tian explained, "The rim treatment and ring foot trimming technique that Professor Su noticed lean toward the xuande style; that observation is accurate. However, the color of the blue pigment and the layout of the patterns, including the strength of the line work in this interlocking lotus, are indeed mature techniques of the Yongle Official Kiln. This 'contradiction' precisely indicates that the artisan who painted this bottle had begun to experiment with new body-trimming standards, but his brushwork for the porcelain painting still followed the old style. During the transition between the Yongle and xuande periods, such 'cross-period' items are not uncommon."

He then continued, "Furthermore, the coloration of the Su Ma Li Qing does not lie. Look at the bleeding of the interlocking lotus pattern on the neck; the edges diffuse naturally and are not the result of deliberate brushstrokes. The Silvery-tin luster is also correct, and the dark brown crystalline spots are sunken beneath the glaze. If you scratch the glaze surface with a fingernail, you won't feel any protrusion; this is natural precipitation, not the piled-up material of later imitations. Look again at this ring foot; the knife work is sharp, and there is no hesitation in the finishing strokes like those seen in xuande pieces. The way the glaze flows naturally toward the foot-end is also a characteristic of Yongle; xuande pieces have thicker glaze accumulation at the foot-end, which this one lacks."

He raised his head and looked toward Jiang Peiyuan, his tone certain.

"Therefore, Professor Jiang, this Blue and White Interlocking Lotus Pattern Yuhuchun Bottle should be an Unquestionably authentic Yongle blue and white piece."

As his voice fell, the area around the table became quiet.

Jiang Peiyuan rubbed his chin, staring thoughtfully at the Blue and White Interlocking Lotus Pattern Yuhuchun Bottle. After a long while, he suddenly looked up and laughed, saying to Su Huairen, "Huairen, do you think the words of this young man, Hu Tian, could be considered saving face for both of us?"

This time, Su Huairen truly smiled. He took off his glasses and slowly wiped them with a lens cloth, his tone unhurried. "Whether or not he saved face is a minor matter; whether what he said makes sense is the important thing."

He looked up at Hu Tian, his gaze now holding a measure of genuine approval. "It makes sense."

Jiang Peiyuan immediately placed another blue and white porcelain plate on the table in front of Hu Tian, tapped the tabletop, and said with a chuckle, "Good! Since Little Hu has such sharp eyes, why don't you appraise the Base mark of this Official Kiln blue and white piece for me? I've always felt there was something unique about the way this mark was written, but Huairen insists I'm overthinking it."

Su Huairen gave a cold snort as he put his glasses back on and said unhurriedly, "I said you're overthinking it because you're not even thinking in the right direction."

After saying that, he also turned his body and slightly gestured toward Hu Tian. "Little Hu, listen to me for a moment—"

"Hey, hey, hey, Su Huairen, what are you doing?"

Jiang Peiyuan's eyes immediately widened, and he reached out to block Su Huairen. " I spoke first, so why are you interrupting?"

Su Huairen did not back down, setting his teacup down on the table. "So what if you spoke first? There's no rule saying the first to speak is the first to ask. I'm providing a supplement, do you understand?"

The two of them went back and forth, bickering without the slightest hint of the dignified air expected of seventy-year-olds, looking instead like two children fighting over candy.

Standing to the side, Hu Tian was somewhat caught between laughter and tears.

At that moment, Professor Fang Jiye, who had been sitting silently in the corner, slowly spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a weight that commanded the room.

"You two, it's like this every time."

Professor Fang Jiye looked up at Jiang Peiyuan and Su Huairen, shook his head, and then turned his gaze toward Hu Tian. His eyes held a different kind of meaning as he said in a gentle tone, "Little Hu, Old Jiang and Old Su are always arguing; ignore them. Come and look at this tripod. Even I am uncertain about its authenticity; would you like to take a look?"

As soon as he said this, Jiang Peiyuan and Su Huairen stopped talking simultaneously and looked toward Fang Jiye.

Jiang Peiyuan was the first to change expression. "Hey, Old Fang, you're stepping in too... ah!"

Before he could finish, he stopped abruptly, then turned his head and exchanged a look with Su Huairen.

The confrontational aura between the two strangely dissipated at that moment, replaced by a tacit understanding.