Everything Is Collectable!
Paintings and calligraphy are among the most popular collectibles in China. Some, if they are truly unique, can fetch astronomical prices. Ancient money, which has high intrinsic as well as cultural value, is also prized among collectors. Objects from specific historical periods, such as the Republic of China (1911-1949) or from the 1950s, the “cultural revolution” (1966-1976) and the 1980s – radios, televisions, games or telephones – are also sought after. Obviously, enamels and porcelain are among the top collectibles, as well as stamps, banknotes, or even commemorative coins. Among the more unusual collectibles one can find tea sets and enamel chamber pots which are still “soiled.”
An American journalist once mocked Chinese stone-collectors. Puzzled at this hobby, he didn’t understand that it is an ancient pastime with roots in age-old Taoist culture. The stones from sacred Mount Taishan are treasured and sell for a high price according to their shapes and veins. Myself, I have one which resembles the Chinese character “mountain.” Jade is also highly valued, both as jewelry and sculpture.
A Passion That Didn’t Start Yesterday
Collecting is a fashion hundreds of years old in China. The Chinese word for collecting, which literally means “collecting and hiding,” comes from the old way of storing collections in a special cabinet, hidden from view and covered in mothballs. The habit has revived in recent years, but it is by no means a novelty.
During the Song Dynasty (960-1279) the poetess Li Qingzhao and her husband traveled across China in search of engravings and steles. Their trove was so large that during the Jurchen invasion it took 50 wagons to transport all of their treasures when the couple fled their home. Unfortunately, almost all of it was lost after the death of Li’s husband. The tragedy inspired one of her saddest and most beautiful poems, and thus became a blessing in disguise.
The painter and calligrapher Zhao Mengfu of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) was also a seasoned collector, who regarded his collection as a means of studying other artists and borrowing inspiration from them.
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) calligrapher Dong Qichang was also a fervent connoisseur of paintings and calligraphy, an impressive number of which bear his seal. According to his records, not one of these items was ever resold: he was a true collector. Dong is sometimes described as the first Chinese art dealer and, in any case, one of the most experienced collectors. He hoarded his collection in a chamber named Xuanshang, and composed a detailed inventory which is still used as a reference by art dealers and collectors today.
Qing Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) was also an ardent hoarder of antiques and valuables. He is known for having the most extensive art collection of any Chinese monarch. Most of the best-prized Chinese artworks traded today originated in his collections, having been plundered from the sack of the Yuanmingyuan gardens or the chaotic periods thereafter. Today these relics are sought after by collectors all over the world.
I have decided to start my own collection. Perhaps one day, like the celebrity collector Ma Weidu, I will open a museum of tea sets. Who knows?
