Nope, not yet. And I did not mean to criticize them. Sometimes, I just don't understand their pricing.TeaTotaling wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 4:16 pmGood sir, have you made any purchases from the fine folks at ZAG? Specifically in the Yixing Teapot Department? If so, thoughts??
Yixing
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Understood, I hear ya! Speak freely, the truth will prevail! Nothing wrong with constructive criticism, open dialogue brings many minds together. Thanks!Mark-S wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 4:24 pmNope, not yet. And I did not mean to criticize them. Sometimes, I just don't understand their pricing.TeaTotaling wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 4:16 pmGood sir, have you made any purchases from the fine folks at ZAG? Specifically in the Yixing Teapot Department? If so, thoughts??
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Your not getting it. A replica is worthless. A legit mid qing jar may not be collected for use at all, too precious and old. If you just want something to store tea, a fake antique is probably a worse bet than a modern jar made by a trusted Potter who does not use toxic materials.
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Things are always cheaper when the purchaser is the one identifying and authenticating the piece.Mark-S wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 4:24 pmNope, not yet. And I did not mean to criticize them. Sometimes, I just don't understand their pricing.TeaTotaling wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 4:16 pmGood sir, have you made any purchases from the fine folks at ZAG? Specifically in the Yixing Teapot Department? If so, thoughts??
You still don’t know if your jar is authentic.
Last edited by Chadrinkincat on Thu May 21, 2020 4:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Yes, they are a well respected shop.TeaTotaling wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 4:08 pm...or are they?? Maybe they have me duped!!Youzi wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 3:33 pmIt's "Proven" to be Mid Qing? From a Trusted source?Mark-S wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 3:30 pm
Wouldn't the missing lid be a dealbreaker? And why is this jar so expensive and my jar isn't? Sometimes I simply don't get it.
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Yeah, that seems to be true for antique goods.Chadrinkincat wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 4:45 pmThings are always cheaper when the purchaser is the one identifying and authentic the piece.
You still don’t know if your jar is authentic.
Any idea how I could check the authenticity of these things? Other than educating myself for years... The seller told me it's from Qing dynasty. I actually have no reason to mistrust him, but I don't like to trust sellers blindly. The jar was not cheap but also not $900 or so. And apparently Teachronicles thinks it's a worthless replica.
It only takes one customer that "understands" their pricing to make said pricing right. This is not mass distribution of identical products where you need to get to a price point that a large swath of the market will consider appropriate. They need to match one item with one buyer, and it does not really matter that two thousand people found that pot overpriced as long as they find that one buyer. Quite the opposite : if they sell at prices where many people are interested in each item, they are leaving a lot of money on the table.
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Well said, I couldn’t agree more. Thoughtful, common sense approach.Teachronicles wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 4:39 pmYour not getting it. A replica is worthless. A legit mid qing jar may not be collected for use at all, too precious and old. If you just want something to store tea, a fake antique is probably a worse bet than a modern jar made by a trusted Potter who does not use toxic materials.
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Let's say your jar is a late qing or even mid qing jar, and if it is you really lucked out! But you don't know that it is, and there's a chance that it is a later replica. With that ZAG jar, it is confirmed by people WHO HAVE educated themselves for years, and it is confirmed mid qing. These things cost money, and their expertise in finding and authenticating these things had a price as well.Mark-S wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 5:16 pmYeah, that seems to be true for antique goods.Chadrinkincat wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 4:45 pmThings are always cheaper when the purchaser is the one identifying and authentic the piece.
You still don’t know if your jar is authentic.
Any idea how I could check the authenticity of these things? Other than educating myself for years... The seller told me it's from Qing dynasty. I actually have no reason to mistrust him, but I don't like to trust sellers blindly. The jar was not cheap but also not $900 or so. And apparently Teachronicles thinks it's a worthless replica.
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Indeed we are. I find it a privilege to have access to verified pieces of history. We are paying a premium for this access. It is also an investment which could have the potential to appreciate in value.Teachronicles wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 5:39 pmWe are small fish in the world of Chinese tea and teaware.
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To be honest, I'm not sure my statement of we are paying for their expertise is wholly true. This is just what these pieces go for. I don't think we are paying a "westerners premium." Tho maybe I'm wrong, maybe someone more knowledgeable can chime in.TeaTotaling wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 5:47 pmIndeed we are. I find it a privilege to have access to verified pieces of history. We are paying a premium for this access. It is also an investment which could have the potential to appreciate in value.Teachronicles wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 5:39 pmWe are small fish in the world of Chinese tea and teaware.
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It may, or may not be, but it would make sense. If you desire service from a specialist, it’s likely to cost more. I feel like we are paying for access as well. Either way these folks aren’t selling hundreds of items a day. They deserve to make a comfortable living. I am happy to support them. They have been very kind and transparent from my current dealings.Teachronicles wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 5:50 pmTo be honest, I'm not sure my statement of we are paying for their expertise is wholly true. This is just what these pieces go for. I don't think we are paying a "westerners premium." Tho maybe I'm wrong, maybe someone more knowledgeable can chime in.TeaTotaling wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 5:47 pmIndeed we are. I find it a privilege to have access to verified pieces of history. We are paying a premium for this access. It is also an investment which could have the potential to appreciate in value.Teachronicles wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 5:39 pm
We are small fish in the world of Chinese tea and teaware.
I think your statement is true... at least sometimes. I'll give you an example:Teachronicles wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 5:50 pmTo be honest, I'm not sure my statement of we are paying for their expertise is wholly true. This is just what these pieces go for. I don't think we are paying a "westerners premium." Tho maybe I'm wrong, maybe someone more knowledgeable can chime in.
I purchased a plate lately from a Japanese seller. A reputable Asian seller who has mainly Western customers sold the same plate for more than 200% of the price I paid. My plate is also genuine (I asked experts), undamaged and from the same era. Unfortunately, it's not that easy to get Yixing ware authenticated (for free).
I don't have a problem with "premium prices" as long as they don't want 500% or something like that for the same item. In most cases I am just happy to have found the item after all.