Some people say that the best porcelain in the world is Song porcelain. Do you agree?

Some people say that the best porcelain in the world is Song porcelain. Do you agree?
At Christie's in London in 2016, a Yuan blue and white jar named Guiguzi Xiashan was sold for a sky-high price of 100 million yuan. This price set a new world auction record for Chinese porcelain at the time and occupied the headlines of major media. The buyer of this Yuan blue and white piece was Eskenazi, known as the world's top antique dealer, and he became famous for this reason. In fact, Eskenazi has been well-known in the industry for a long time. From Yuan blue and white to Ming Chenghua chicken cups, to Southern Song Dynasty official kiln porcelain, all the collections he has passed through have performed well at auctions. Recently, we had an exclusive interview with this antique dealer, and the following is the Q&A
. Milan, Italy, where the z family’s antique business was founded, why did they choose Chinese art instead of Western art?
Answer: The Z family’s antique business was founded in 2001. It focuses on all arts in the Far East, not only China, but also cultural relics and antiques from Japan and Southeast Asia.
. You are known as the world's top antique dealer. After 2000, you began to take over the management of z company's business in London. By the middle of the decade, you had become a leader in the industry. Could you please explain why z company was able to achieve success in just a few years? ?
Answer: After my father passed away unexpectedly in 2008, I took over the business of Company Z in London. I think the main reasons for the success of my business were two points. I worked very hard at the time, and I tried my best to choose the top collections for trading. And we have inherited this spirit and persisted until now.
. zChinese art categories include porcelain, bronzes, gold and silverware, and classical furniture, but Chinese calligraphy and painting are not considered to be the most important categories of Chinese art. Why is this?
Answer: I really like Chinese calligraphy and painting, but I never buy or sell it, mainly because I am not very professional in this area and always have to rely on other experts. However, in recent years, my son D has made great progress in the field of calligraphy and painting. He has introduced some outstanding artists in contemporary ink painting. Last year Li Huayi held an exhibition of his works here, and now another contemporary ink painter Liu Dan has a work on display in the gallery.
. Talking about your feats in the antique industry, we have to mention the 1998 Christie's in London. You bid for 10,000 pounds for the Guiguzi Xiashan Yuan blue and white jar. Before, Chinese literati and officials felt that the Yuan blue and white were not elegant enough, but now the Yuan blue and white It is very popular in the market. What do you think of this phenomenon?
Answer: No matter in terms of quality or scarcity, the Guiguzi Yuan blue and white jar sold at Christie's in London is top-notch. I think it is well worth the money I spent. Many art categories go up and down in the market, but quality and scarcity are eternal.
. This spring, a Southern Song Dynasty official kiln vase was sold at Sotheby's for HK$100 million. Now Song porcelain has a tendency to surpass the porcelain of the third generation of Qing Dynasty on the market. There is a saying that you are the driving force behind the popularity of Song porcelain. Do you agree with this statement? What do you think of Song Ci?
Answer: I spent 1,000 pounds to buy this Southern Song Dynasty official kiln vase. Although this object was very top-notch and very rare, it still took us a year to sell it. Song porcelain is not only the best porcelain in China, but also the best in the world. As I just mentioned, many art categories go up and down in the market, but quality and scarcity are eternal. This Southern Song Dynasty official kiln porcelain is a typical representative. This month, we also held an exhibition on Song porcelain at a gallery in London. I believe that as the best representative of porcelain, Song porcelain will continue to receive attention and recognition.
. From Yuan blue and white to chicken bowl cups to Song porcelain, all the collections you have handled have performed well in the auction market and have broken world records many times. What are the criteria you use to judge the value of a collection? aspects to consider?
Answer: For a work of art, quality and scarcity are always the two most important factors for antique dealers. As you know, Chenghua Chicken Cups are also extremely rare. Most of them are hidden in the National Palace Museum in Taipei, and only a few remain in the hands of private collectors.
. China’s art market reached an unprecedented peak in 2018, but has continued to decline in the past two years. How does Mr. Z view this situation?
Answer: The peak of the art market depends on the overall situation, not individual sky-high prices. Although we have not felt the decline of the market, I believe that being able to find works of art that are in excellent condition, meet the market's desires, or are rarely seen in the hands of collectors will keep the company's business in full swing. . If a very top-notch, rare object comes on the market, it can still achieve record prices.
. According to the industry, you are a very successful antique dealer. Do you have any secrets of success that you can share with everyone? What advice do you have for collectors in China?
Answer: In today's market environment, prepare money and buy the best works possible.
.z Company’s collections are only exhibited in London and New York. Have you ever thought about expanding into Asian markets, such as Beijing or Tokyo?
Answer: We attach great importance to the Asian market. As early as the beginning of the 2000s, we had business dealings with many Japanese. However, Japanese collectors have been relatively quiet in the past two years. But in mainland China, more and more collectors are coming to consult. Since the 1960s and 1970s, the world has changed a lot. We often come to Asia, and relying on the development of technology, especially the Internet, it has become easier and easier to maintain our relationships with Asian customers.
Editor of this article: Xin Changyin Art Review Center