Demystifying the tricks of cultural relics

Imitation Ancient Pottery Soaked in Urine

Fraudulent antiques are typically created in two main stages. The first is to replicate the physical and material aspects of genuine artifacts. For example, when it comes to porcelain, forgers go to great lengths to match the composition of ancient pieces. They source materials like "Taihou Pit" porcelain stone from Anhui, which was historically used during the Qing Dynasty, and high-quality kaolin from nearby villages, sometimes spending over 100 yuan per bag. These efforts aim to make the fake as close as possible to the original.

Once the raw materials are matched, the item may look authentic but still lacks the historical patina. The second step involves aging the piece to give it an aged appearance. This process can be quite elaborate and even bizarre. For instance, some pottery is buried in tomb soil for at least a month to allow natural elements like rain, gas, and even organic remains to seep into the surface, creating a weathered look. Others are treated with strong acids like hydrofluoric acid or potassium permanganate to simulate corrosion.

Jade fakes also follow similar methods. There are two main approaches: either making old jade look new or creating new jade that appears ancient. To age new jade, forgers use various techniques. One method involves heating the jade and then immersing it in a reddish-brown solution to mimic oxidation. Another is burning the jade in fire, which can alter its color and texture. Some pieces are soaked in acidic solutions, then placed in a mixture of ash and wheat bran to create a rough, weathered surface. Others are fried in oil to turn them red or yellow, and some even involve soaking them in sugar solutions to simulate a sugary crust.

One particularly unusual technique involves using a dog. Freshly killed animal blood is placed inside the jade, which is then buried underground for years. When retrieved, the jade shows signs of dirt and bloodstains, giving it a falsely aged appearance known as “dog jade.”

Old furniture is also faked using a variety of methods. New pieces are deliberately broken, disassembled, and reassembled to look worn. Parts are baked at high temperatures to cause cracking and deformation, then cooled rapidly to enhance the aged look. Some sections are charred with a blowtorch, and if the coloring isn’t right, they are stained with shoe polish to imitate natural wear. The legs of the furniture are often rubbed with sand and soaked in vinegar to simulate long-term use. A lime paste is applied, which erodes the surface over time, followed by additional coloring and polishing to complete the illusion of age.

The final step is placing the furniture in a damp area under a birdcage, so that bird droppings add to the false appearance of long-term use.

For fake porcelain, the “thief light” – the bright, artificial sheen of new ceramics – must be removed. This is done by brushing the surface with strong acid, which creates tiny cracks that resemble natural aging. This process is called “biting.” The porcelain is then placed in a stew-like mixture containing tea, salt, alkali, ink, and Other substances to deepen the color and simulate centuries of use. Some pieces are buried in soil mixed with lead and copper powders, a process known as “feeding,” to further enhance their aged look.

In the case of Tang Sancai (three-color) ceramics, forgers use techniques such as high-temperature firing followed by rapid cooling to create natural-looking cracks. They also use a peeling glaze method, where part of the glaze is removed to mimic natural wear. Ink is applied and washed away, leaving behind a “iron wire” pattern, which is then coated with gold pigment to create a “gold wire” effect. To fool thermoluminescence dating, some fakes are briefly exposed to X-rays, which can trick the test into thinking the object is thousands of years old.

Finally, forgeries of ancient bronze objects often involve “biting” with acid to create rust. Copper and iron oxides are mixed with glue and painted onto the surface before being buried in moist soil. Some forgers even pour urine on the items to accelerate the aging process. After burial, the artificial and natural rusts blend together, sometimes forming fossil-like crystals, making the fake appear truly ancient.

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