It seems that there's no time like the present to buy antiques in Taiwan.
Whether they be stately artistic relics such as a green glazed ceramic vessel from 2000 years ago, or a simple Ching dynasty piece of jade for about NT$3000, there is a lot to choose from these days.
At the Li Yin Oriental Art Co (禮瀛東方藝術), where Tang Dynasty pieces sit on towering white stands and other antiques may be had in bronze, stone or wood, the preferred collectible is by far pottery. The store's owner, Tsai Li-yin (蔡禮瀛), points to a pottery horse and says: "Horses are extremely popular with our visitors who drop in, as well as female figurines from the Han or Tang dynasty."
"You've come at the right time," Tsai says. "Antiques have never been so available and affordable as they are now."
Since 1987, when Taiwanese were allowed to travel to China, antique collecting has continued to gain momentum, with dealers and investors taking the opportunity to load up on cultural relics they previously could only see in museums. Until recently, the local antique market mainly offered products from the more recent Ming and Ching dynasties (14th to 20th centuries). Now, the market is flooded with relics from earlier periods, the majority coming from the stronger and culturally dominant dynasties, namely the Tang (907 BC - 618 BC) and Han (221 BC - 206 BC). Some items can even be traced to before 1000 BC.
Tsai, who sources his antiques from Hong Kong, says most people who buy antiques are investors as well. "This is the most exciting time and the best time for antiquarians and collectors," says Tsai, because internationally publicized findings from large excavation projects in China over the past few decades have drawn much attention and reforms in that country are helping the industry flourish. "We had more antique items available in the past one year, for example, than we have over the last 10 years," Tsai adds.
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
Price is right
And now, the price is right, too, says Tsai. "Compared with Hong Kong, where the prices are internationally standardized, Taiwan is still searching for a pricing system. If you are buying antiques just for fondness, that's fine. But if you are looking for investments, prices have never been this low."
Antiquarian Lin Chao-jung (林朝榮) echoes Tsai's observation. A collector for nearly 30 years, he says there has been a dramatic drop in prices in Taiwan. "A Han Dynasty bronze vessel that used to cost NT$200,000 can be easily obtained at a quarter of that price," he says.
Lin owns a small shop as a venue to meet other antiquarians and at the same time to trade or sell the items in his collection. He laments the low prices that affect dealers, but agrees that now is a fascinating time for collectors who relish ancient artisans' works.
Because of its proximity to China, Taiwan is becoming a treasure trove for antiquarians. Some go to China to obtain treasures for themselves, while others purchase through Hong Kong, a global hub for Asian art. While the island may act as a way-station for Chinese collectibles, Taiwanese antiquities still haven't found a strong market because they are relatively contemporary. The best local antiques include 80-year-old furniture or daily utensils and aboriginal costumes, which fall mostly into the hands of cultural or research institutions.
Collect according to interest
For those just getting ready to dabble in antiquary, there is a wealth of cultural knowledge to absorb to ensure that you're getting your money's worth. But boning up on antiquities is part of where the fun lies when you're a collector. Alex Lo, a specialist on Chinese ceramics and works of art at Sotheby's auction house, suggests first-time buyers decide on a category to concentrate on, such as figurines from the Tang Dynasty or ceramic vessels from the more recent Ching Dynasty.
Teng Chen-ching (鄧成清), the first antique dealer to sell his ceramic pieces to the National Palace Museum nearly 20 years ago, recommends touring museums as a good way to become familiar with antiques.
As a specialist in ceramic items from the Ming and Ching dynasties, Teng says it's far more reliable and affordable for collectors to begin with items from these more recent dynasties. "The ceramic work done for the royal families followed a strict system for production, and it's easy to trace the styles, the amounts, the qualities and prices of specific ceramic items," says Teng, adding that authentication is not an issue for his stock, though it is a major one in antiquary in general.
For those wanting to do some window shopping, try Sanpu market (三普商場). The market brings together 30 antique boutiques in the basement of the Sanpu building, situated close to the Kuanghua Bridge, where computer stores congregate as well.
These shops are run by pros who have been involved in antiquary for at least a decade. They don't usually promote themselves, as antique trading is somewhat reclusive and the clientele is generally fixed. However, the shop owners here are well versed in their collections, and their small, classic shops are usually stacked with professional magazines and hard-cover volumes to indicate the depth of their professional knowledge. Chen Chun-hung (陳俊宏) at Treasure Antiques (典藏古美術), for example, will open a big book to explain the history of a "sword stomach scabbard slide" (劍璲), a jade item that sits in his glass case.
There are plenty of miscellaneous items available here. Jade articles, for example, are a favorite. And they're very affordable for many. A small ring-shaped jade item from the Ching dynasty costs about NT$3,000. Tong Hsiao-chu (董孝祖) of the store named Yu Chen Chai (玉珍齋) will match his jade items with a stand, so they can be placed vertically on a desk for display.
You may also find a flower-patterned Ching dynasty vase priced at about NT$50,000 or some rare local relics, such as wood sculptures of folk gods. It's an intriguing market with diverse products, and the prices vary dramatically.
A drawback that's hard to overcome is that jade cannot be authenticated by rigorous scientific methods, so you will have to rely on the dealers to appraise the value of jade pieces. The good thing about it is that the market is flexible and it's OK to bargain.
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