Olden Glor y

Playing a part in the International Antiques Fair 2016, respected scholar and dealer opens up about his relationship with ancient treasures, composed of passionate research and a series of beautiful mistakes

There is much to be learned from antiques. When we study them, we learn about how and why they were made, their significance and meaning to the people of their period, as well as how they are related to our time. More than just valuable objects to be collected, antiques really teach us about culture and history, which as a result, helps us discover ourselves. The learning process is one that is never ending. Surely, we make mistakes along the way, but we make sure to make lesser mistakes the next time. must say. I met up with an antique dealer in Hong Kong who had in his possession a very rare Chinese Neolithic pot. The first time I laid eyes on the piece, I knew in my gut that it was a fake. I told the man so. He, however, guaranteed that it was genuine by providing concrete proof of a series of appraisal tests and analysis. He made such a convincing case, I bought the piece in the end. But the hunch I felt earlier on never went away. Something felt wrong but I could not pinpoint what it was. When the pot arrived at my office in Paris, I asked my trusted restorer to examine it. The first few results came back, indicating that it was indeed the real thing. Still, I wasn’t satisfied. It wasn’t until three months later, after we nearly