Reborn Treasure Appraiser: I Really Didn’t Want to Be an Expert

Chapter 77 It’s Over
Lin Sicheng blinked his eyes and said, "Professor Wang, I feel... this thing is a bit similar?"

Wang Qizhi hesitated a little: "Look... it does look a bit like him!"

Upon hearing these two sentences, Guan Xingmin, who was standing next to him, felt a pang in his heart.

What is similar? Of course, it is similar to the original.

If the order of their conversations were reversed, Guan Xingmin would at most be suspicious. But, the one who said this thing resembled Lin Sicheng?

It’s no exaggeration to say that Guan Xingmin’s heartbeat quickened in an instant.

Think about the backflow pot in the cultural relics center, and the Hetian white jade lion paperweight from last time...

Guan Xingmin forced himself to remain calm: "What I mean is... there's a high chance it's authentic?"

"It's a bit big!" Lin Sicheng pointed at the shiny gilded layer. "At first glance, it looks like it's about 50% to 60%."

Guan Xingmin is also a collector, so he naturally knows that the so-called "50% to 60%" plus "enough" is basically equivalent to the authenticity.

However, those who do appraisals will leave some room for themselves and will not say anything too absolute.

What does this mean? It means the municipal and provincial departments have made a mistake again.

The problem was that the branch arrested the suspect based on the city's forensic report, and the procuratorate also used this report as a basis to prepare a prosecution for "fraud of an especially large amount."

If this is genuine, how can it be a fraud and why would I sue?
Seeing that his expression was not right, Lin Sicheng guessed roughly: "Director Guan, are you responsible for this copper furnace?"

Guan Xingmin nodded vigorously: "Why else would I be so anxious?"

Wang Qizhi’s eyelids also twitched: No wonder?
The last incident with the lion paperweight was more serious, and Guan Xingmin was only shocked because he was not responsible.

But he was responsible for the first and second inspections of this incense burner, and he will be the first person held accountable in the end.

Since the incense burner is genuine, the charge of fraud is naturally not established, and of course, there can be no prosecution. But the person has been detained for nearly three months, so does he have to pay compensation?

Next, will the accountability procedure be initiated and will the case handlers handle the matter?
Of course it needs to be dealt with.

But how long did it take him, and how much did he pay, to get to this point?
Boom, it's all over...

It’s no exaggeration to say that in just two minutes, sweat started to appear on Guan Xingmin’s forehead.

The teacher and student looked at each other, their expressions slightly solemn.

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment and turned the copper furnace over: "Director Guan, don't worry, let's wait and see!"

Wang Qizhi also nodded, and the two of them took out high-intensity flashlights at the same time, each looking at one side.

In fact, strictly speaking, no matter what kind of cultural relic it is, whether it is the shape, material, craftsmanship, or inscriptions, it can be forged, and even can be forged to the extent of 80% to 90% similarity, which is often said to be indistinguishable from the real thing.

For example, the backflow teapot from the cultural relics company, and the Hetian white jade lion paperweight that I saw last time.

The most difficult to forge are the various age characteristics that are caused by oxidation or corrosion of the material and formed over time.

For example, rust, stains, etc. Including the use of scientific and technological means to detect, the first sample to be inspected must also be this.

This is also what Lin Sicheng and Wang Qizhi are looking at.

The two of them first looked at the outer layer, but after a few minutes, Lin Sicheng frowned slightly.

The rust on the surface seems to be real?

At first glance, the surface of the object seems to be covered with a layer of dirt, but it cannot be wiped off?

In fact, this is the rust layer formed by the calcium carbonate in the soil deposited on the surface, indicating that the artifact was buried in calcium-rich soil for a long time.

Secondly, under the earthy rust, you can see obvious white rust spots: this is because the object comes into contact with microorganisms in an oxygen-rich environment, and the tin selectively corrodes to form tin dioxide (SnO), scientifically known as tin-rich rust layer (Type IV).

Continue down: The rust layer is black with a hint of reddish-brown: this is a composite rust layer formed by the mixture of iron oxides in objects and soil in an oxygen-rich dry environment.

Scientifically known as Type II rust, its primary components are red copper (CuO) and black copper (CuO). These three characteristics alone indicate a burial environment: oxygen-rich, dry, calcium-rich, and microbially active. This suggests a northern loess tomb that has sustained a long-term aerobic environment, despite damage.

I don’t know if it was dug out from Shaanxi, but it is definitely north of the Yellow River.

The key point is: from bottom to top, the rust layer is a multi-layer structure of "black → brown → earth", and it is progressive layer by layer. It will take at least two or three hundred years for the rust to come out.

It is even more impossible to forge one.

Is Guan Xingmin really finished now?
Instinctively, Lin Sicheng frowned even tighter. Suddenly, with a "bang", the copper furnace shook.

Wang Qizhi tapped the edge of the furnace with a magnifying glass, his face lit up with joy: "Lin Sicheng, come and take a look, this rust looks like it's pasted on."

impossible……

Three words flashed through his mind instinctively, and Lin Sicheng simply bypassed the desk and went to Wang Qizhi's side.

But just one glance and his eyelids couldn't stop twitching: with just a slight knock, some green powder actually fell off the copper furnace?
Not many, just a few stars.

But this is not a question of more or less: the copper rust formed by hundreds of years of corrosion may not be able to be scraped off with a knife, but it can be removed with just a light tap?
Surprised, Lin Sicheng picked up a little and twisted it with his fingers: the rust is real.

Then look at the surface of the object through a magnifying glass: at the bottom of the rust layer, that is, between the black copper oxide and the copper furnace, there is a layer of black light film.

It is extremely thin and hidden. If you don't use a high-power magnifying glass, you may not be able to see it.

This is lacquer, also known as raw lacquer, the most commonly used and strongest adhesive in ancient times. So there is no doubt that the rust layer was pasted on.

Why is it that the rust on the other half can never be more real?
It's impossible that this copper stove is half real and half fake?

It is absolutely impossible: there are no traces of splicing on the entire body, and the casting marks are seamless. Let alone the Qing Dynasty, it cannot be made even in another eight hundred years.

Just as he was feeling suspicious, he saw Guan Xingmin breathe a sigh of relief and actually started laughing.

Lin Sicheng immediately poured cold water on him: "Director Guan, please stop laughing!"

As he spoke, he turned the copper furnace around.

Wang Qizhi didn't understand, so Lin Sicheng gestured again, meaning that he should take a look first.

Wang Qizhigang subconsciously raised the magnifying glass, took a look, and his pupils shrank suddenly.

Black rust (copper oxide) → brown rust (red copper) → earth rust (calcium carbonate), and white tin dioxide is mixed under the earth rust.

Oxide rust layer formed in oxygen-rich, dry and calcium-rich environment?
Look at the other side: copper oxide → basic copper sulfate → basic copper carbonate... a hydrated rust layer (Type III) formed in an oxygen-deficient, moist, low-chloride environment.

But what nonsense?

Because the two rust layers form in completely opposite environments.

For example: one is in the permafrost of the Arctic, and the other is in the equatorial zone. Therefore, these two types of rust cannot possibly appear on the same object...

The key point is: the rust layer on the dry side is close to the object. After four or five times back and forth, Wang Qizhi did not find any traces of transplantation or pasting.

Furthermore, after nearly twenty years of research, how could he not tell whether these rust layers were naturally formed?

So, this half is true.

He thought for a moment, turned the stove over, turned the magnifying glass upside down, and rubbed the piece he had just examined hard.

Rub it once and a piece of rust will fall off. Rub it again and another piece of rust will fall off.

Gradually, the gilt layer was revealed, as well as an oxidized rust layer mixed with earth rust and black-brown rust, exactly the same as the one Lin Sicheng had examined.

Wang Qizhi was stunned for a long time, raised his head in astonishment, and stared at Lin Sicheng intently, the word "genuine" came to his lips.

Guan Xingmin is finished!
(End of this chapter)