Identification method of gold and bronze Buddha collection How to identify a gold and bronze Buddha can start from the following aspects:
(A) the identification of modeling
The gold and bronze Buddha statues in each period have their own style characteristics, which are identified according to their outstanding modeling characteristics.
1, face and posture. The face and posture of the Buddha statue are the key to identify the Buddha statue. Including facial expressions, body proportions, and posture of sitting, lying and standing.
Backlight and base. The backlight and pedestal of the Buddha statue are the reference for identifying the Buddha statue. For example, the difference between Buddha, Bodhisattva and Lohan can be distinguished according to the different styles and workmanship of headlamps, body lamps and pedestals. It can also be identified according to the style of the pedestal. Most buddhas and bodhisattvas are placed on lotus seats, while arhats are placed on futon seats.
3. Handprints and articles. There are strict regulations on the handprints and utensils of Buddha statues. According to the handprints and implements held by Buddha statues, the types of Buddha statues can be determined. For example, most Buddha statues do not hold objects in their hands, and only use handprints as signs. There is also a strict distinction between the objects held by various bodhisattvas and protectors.
(2) Identification of casting process
Ancient gold and bronze Buddha statues were generally cast by lost wax method and casting method. Because of the superb casting technology in ancient times, the wall of the statue is thin, and the sound of knocking is crisp and concentrated. Is this jargon? On hand? And then what? Sound? . Forgers don't know the weight of the original, so they cast it at will. The fake Buddha statue is either too thick or too thin. If the carcass is too thick or too thin, the former is turbid and the latter is brittle.
Ancient craftsmen have rich experience in casting statues. Pay attention to the proportion of Buddha body, backlight and Buddha bed. Generally, the lower part is heavier than the upper part, or the backlight is emphasized to correct the center of gravity of the object. But forgers can't take care of it either. The Buddha statue is made very thin, especially the backlight of the Buddha statue is balanced and straight, which gives people the feeling of unstable center of gravity.
(3) Identification of patina
The patina is one of the important evidences to identify the gold and bronze Buddha statues, which means that there is no floating rust on the surface of the objects, and the oxide layer covers the whole body evenly, showing a natural luster. There are two kinds of patina for gold and bronze Buddha statues: raw pit and cooked pit:
Shengkeng refers to the newly unearthed golden bronze Buddha statue, whose surface is generally seriously oxidized. A forger imitates a Buddha statue with a pit, which is usually painted with paint. It is dull, dazzling and jargon. A thief? . It can be distinguished by the following methods: first, after touching the utensils with both hands, there is a copper smell on the hands; The second is to scrub the table with hot alkaline water, and the fake paint is easy to fall off.
Cooked pits are handed down from ancient times that have not been buried. After a long period of circulation, the surface of the Buddha statue has formed a natural and uniform luster, with rich colors at the bottom and bright and dazzling surfaces. Counterfeiters usually wax the surface of fakes. Although the surface is shiny and bright, the bottom is dull and has no layering.
(4) Recognition of inscriptions
The inscriptions on the bronze Buddha statues, also known as vows, mainly include: time, year number, year, month, place name, name of the giver, contents of vows, etc. , at least a dozen words, more than a hundred words. Some are engraved on the border or foot of the Buddha bed, and some are engraved on the back of the Buddha statue.
Identifying the authenticity of inscriptions depends on the font, and the styles in different periods are different; The second is to see whether the knife method, the advantages and disadvantages of the knife method, is natural. In particular, some counterfeiters add inscriptions to the Buddha statues to distinguish them by observing the old and new bronze colors of the characters. In addition, see if the content of the sculpture conforms to the characteristics of the times displayed by the Buddha statue.
(5) Identification of decorative patterns
The decorative patterns of Buddha statues are more practical for the identification of Buddha statues. For example, during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the clothes of Buddha statues were elegant and very Chinese. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the costumes of Buddha statues were gorgeous, with complicated patterns, thick and full wreaths and drooping crowns, which were elegant and beautiful. In the Song Dynasty, there appeared a frock with a V-neck inside, and the style of the cassock was the same as that worn by monks in the Song Dynasty. Most of the Buddha statues in Liao Dynasty wore long skirts with simple decoration. Most of the Buddha statues in Ming and Qing Dynasties are Tibetan Buddha statues inlaid with embossed gems, which are rich in color.
The collection value, artistic value and investment value of Buddha statues are far superior.
Compared with the investment value, the collection value of Buddha statues is more reflected in its cultural connotation, and the importance of artistic value far exceeds its investment value. According to CCTV's "Jianbao" column, the Buddha statue has unique artistic charm, and profound Buddhist philosophy and aesthetic thoughts are concentrated in the Buddha statue. It can be said that every work contains the artistic vitality of the ancients.
For example, in the early Ming Dynasty, Buddhist statues in the Han Dynasty were moderate in proportion, full and solid, with simple and smooth lines, plump but not empty, approachable but not vulgar, and the ups and downs of the chest and abdomen matched with the plain and clean coat, giving a full sense of integrity.
Throughout the special auctions of Buddha statues in recent years, besides the Han Buddha statues, there are more lots of Tibetan Buddha statues. It is understood that at the beginning of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Tibetan Buddhism became popular in the mainland, and even Tibetan Buddha statues became popular in the Central Plains. The Buddha statues from this era represent the mature artistic characteristics of Tibetan Buddha statues, with more exquisite craftsmanship and materials and stronger appreciation, so they have always been favored by collectors in the market.
Comparatively speaking, the court statues in the mainland pay attention to overall gold plating and glazing, while the Buddha statues in Tibet pay attention to farsightedness, and like to be inlaid with various minerals, including turquoise, lapis lazuli, etc., and some only gild or gilded their faces. Statues, both Tibetan statues and influenced by Kashmir style, are mostly made of brass, with bright yellow color and are rare elsewhere. At the same time, the eyes and white hair are often inlaid with silver, and the lips and clothing lines like to be inlaid with copper, which makes the statue look gorgeous as a whole.
Collection method of gilded Buddha statues 1. There are many styles of gilded Buddha statues in ancient China, so Tibetan friends must find out the bronze composition or gilded texture when collecting them. According to the comprehensive analysis of relevant data and overall characteristics, it is judged whether the Buddha statue belongs to the new imitation and has been treated as the old one.
Second, the ancient Buddha statues were generally placed on the niches for a long time, especially on the surface of bronze statues, and the newly imitated and old Buddha statues in the modern market were brightly colored.
Third, the bronze used for gilding the Buddha statue is pure and heavy, and the casting method makes the skin thick. Imitation gold-plated Buddha statues are generally impure in copper and light in weight, and are cast with alloy materials.
Four, the ancient casting Buddha statues should be carefully carved by hand, and the traces of their processing are clearly visible. Modern imitation gold-plated Buddha statues are all polished by machinery, and the scale of processing marks is particularly uniform.