RM119m raised from artefacts’ auction

KUALA LUMPUR: Artefacts from China worth RM119 million were sold under the hammer here recently.

Asian Heritage Museum (AHM), with the engagement of Malaysia’s licenced auctioneer with a global live and online bidding system, MNP Auctioneers (Central) Sdn Bhd (MNP), organised the first major auction with the sellers and buyers from overseas.

The auction, which took place at the Boulevard St Giles Hotel here two days ago, was conducted at the request of Guangdong BaoBao Cultural Museum Co Ltd, an auction house from Guangzhou.

Of the total 542 pieces of artefacts put up for auction, 132 pieces were sold by hammer for RM119 million.

AHM chief executive officer K.K. Tan said this was a major breakthrough not just for Malaysia, but also for Asean as the total auction sale was a record for Asian artefacts.

“It would significantly position Malaysia as an international trading centre outside China, of Chinese works of art, which are in great demand,” he said.

AHM is organising a Merdeka Exhibition project called Jalan Merdeka at Carcosa Seri Negara in partnership with the New Straits Times from the end of this month to the end of next month.

Recently, AHM hosted an exhibition at the Museum of Asian Art at Universiti Malaya here.

A leading authentication expert from China said, despite the advancement of technology, the authenticity of Chinese artefacts was best determined by using basic tools and techniques.

Wu Fa Shen of the Jingdezhen Archeology Research Institute in China, uses a 30-60X pocket LED magnifier loupe or magnifying glass and pocket size flashlight to inspect Chinese artefacts.

“The authentication process can be completed in two minutes with the magnifier loupe and flashlight, without using advanced technological tools,” he said. By June Moh