Shanghai was once regarded as the largest antique market in
China, and now, various kinds of antiques like diamonds, ivories,
porcelains and baldachins have emerged again in antique shops
located in some narrow alleys. More and more local citizens have
become professional collectors, hoping to gain profits with deals
in antiques.
Currently merchandises of many antique dealers in Shanghai are
bought from Shannxi, Henan and Hebei provinces. They joke about
their activities as "collecting treasures from the bottom," or
"getting treasures that others ignore."
When talking about his experience, Mr. Li was quite excited. He
revealed that he had bought a bronze candlestick from a villager in
Henan at just 200 yuan (US$25), but he sold it here in Shanghai at
several thousand yuan. Li said collecting antiques is enjoyable for
him.
An antique dealer said bluntly, "It is hard to give reasonable
prices for antiques: buyers can buy a 200-yuan antique worth
millions of yuan, while sellers can also sell valueless antiques at
high prices."
Mr. Zhao said experiences are crucial to make money in antique
market. He has also learned his lessons and vowed to study related
knowledge. In 2004, he bought a painting in Shenyang at 220
thousand yuan, but later he found it was a spurious copy, which is
valued only at 200 yuan.
(CRI.com November 16, 2006)
