Chapter III Investment in calligraphical works
The market for calligraphical works existed long before. The auction market is booming in China, not only with
the entrance of foreign auction companies, but also with the emerging of numerous Chinese companies, in
Beijing alone, there are 44 auction companies as of 2008.
To become a good collector, one has to train his own eyes through hard ways of learning. The first thing to
remember for collecting calligraphy is that the one who wrote it must be famous; the second thing to know is
that the piece of work must be authentic, if the collector is not sure, he can solicit opinions from experts; the
third thing to do is that one should buy the masterpieces of the calligrapher and the last thing is to make sure
that the piece is intact without any blurs or damages.
Works by the following 20 calligraphers are most valuable for collection:
Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi, Zhang Xu, Yan Zhenqing, Huai Su, Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fu, Cai Xiang, Zhao
Ji, Zhao Mengfu, Wen Zhengming, Dong Qichang, Zhu Yunming, Xu Wei, Wang Duo, Zhu Da, Jin Nong, Deng
Shiru and Weng Tonghe.
Foreign collectors should know that works of the following seven comtemporary artists are not allowed to be
brought out of China: Xu Beihong, Fu Baoshi, Pan Tianshou, He Xiangning, Dong Xiwen, Wang Shikuo and Li
Keran.
