傳統的古佛牌鑑定方式,是以眼學為主。透過鑑定者的眼睛及手持放大鏡,進行觀測,觀察色澤、模具線、外觀樣貌進行經驗法則的判斷。如此之方式,皆是人為主觀判斷為主,科學介入較低。故造成目前市場領域鑑定派別林立,收藏者無所適從的狀態。
The traditional method of authentication and appraisal of ancient Buddha amulets is largely based on visual observation techniques. A typical amulet appraiser usually conducts an appraisal by first carefully observing with his/her own eyes or a hand-held magnifier the color, mold lines and the surface and appearance of the Buddha amulets, and then making his/her own judgement based on relevant experience and rules. Such method mostly relies on the subjective judgments by the appraisers and contains few scientifically-proved techniques. As a result, there are numerous self-claimed antique authentication and appraisal groups and teams currently on the market, leaving the antique collector with too many options without knowing which one to trust.
東方森煌鑑定團隊經過多年的樣本收集、資料庫建立,研發出以元素鑑定為主、電子顯微觀測為輔的鑑定方式。透過元素分析儀器,我們可以得知古佛牌的組成元素,這是目前仿製者從未觸及的領域。然而,XRF技術在專業的考古學領域已應用多時,是相當可靠且被專家認可的分析方式。
The appraisal team of SenHuang Antique Authentication Center, after years of relevant sample collection and establishment of its database, have now developed a new method for the authentication and appraisal of ancient Buddha amulets, featuring largely the identification of elements complemented by the electron microscopic observations. The use of elemental analyzers allows us to discover all the elements composing an ancient Buddha amulet, which is a field that other current antique imitators have never attempted to experiment with. However, the XRF technology has long been used in the field of professional archaeology and has long been a reliable analytical method widely recognized by the experts in this field.
在建立鑑定資料庫的研究過程中,東方森煌驚奇地發現許多古佛牌的傳說有其真實性。
During the ongoing process of establishing its own authentication database, SenHuang has surprisingly discovered that many legends of ancient Buddha amulets do maintain a certain degree of authenticity.
例如,阿贊多的傳奇佛牌”瓦拉康崇迪”,傳說就是混入了香蕉作為黏著劑,然而一般收藏者經過百年後,根本聞不到香蕉味,也看不到香蕉粒,無法證實這件事。但經過我們與不同實驗室及儀器公司交叉比對的過程中,赫然發現真品瓦拉康確實可偵測到香蕉殘留的元素。雖然水融性的元素大多已經乾燥或流失,留下的較多是礦物質類或碳水化合物類的成分,但因為檢測儀的精準度可至0.01%(萬分之一),故仍可偵測到香蕉的相關成分。這樣的發現,可間接證實以香蕉作為黏著劑的傳說為真,是非常令研究團隊感到振奮之事。
For example, legend goes that “Phra Somdej Wat Rakang”, the legendary Thai Buddha amulet of Somdej Toh, contains banana used as the adhesive, but ordinary collectors can neither smell the scent of banana nor see any banana grains after its one hundred years of existence. Therefore, it is yet to be confirmed whether the amulet contains banana. However, after conducting the cross-comparison of the results from different laboratories and lab instrument companies, we have surprisingly found that the residual elements of banana can be detected in the authentic Phra Somdej Wat Rakang. Although most of the water-soluble elements have dried out or have been lost, and most of the components left inside the amulet are minerals or carbohydrates, the relevant components of banana are still detectable since the precision of our detector can reach 0.01% (1/10000). Such discovery is able to indirectly authenticate the legend of using banana as an adhesive in the amulet, which is an exciting news for our own research team.
事實上,許多高階的富豪收藏家,多年來已運用各種精密儀器為自己的收藏做鑑定。但因為儀器費用極為高昂,始終無法普及於一般民間。東方森煌透過與不同實驗室的合作,大幅降低鑑定收費,使所有收藏家都能以實惠的費用享有菁英階級的鑑定服務。
In fact, many high-ranking wealthy collectors have long been using various sophisticated scientific instruments to authenticate and appraise their own collections for years. However, since the costs of these instruments are incredibly high, the use of these instruments cannot be popularized among the general public. Through the cooperation with various laboratories, SenHuang Antique Authentication Center has drastically reduced the authentication and appraisal fees, so that all collectors can truly enjoy the top-class authentication and appraisal services provided at affordable costs.
作為公開的鑑定中心,必定涉及許多不同利益,故應有基礎的道德信念。過去古佛牌的領域,經常是鑑定者兼販售者,再兼賽事舉辦者,甚至組織派系壟斷交易市場。這在國際的鑑定領域是嚴重違反其道德操守的。因此,東方森煌謹守分際,僅執行鑑定服務,絕不販售任何相關的古文物。讓鑑定與交易分流,為良好的收藏市場貢獻一份心力。
For a public authentication and appraisal center, there must be a variety of different interests involved in its related business, so there are some fundamental moral beliefs our center should always stick to. In the past, the authentication and appraisal business related to ancient Buddha amulets was often dominated by those self-claimed appraisers who were also antique traffickers as well as organizers of events and even further organized their own factions to monopolize the trading market, which was a serious violation of the legal ethics in the field of international authentication and appraisal business. Therefore, SenHuang Antique Authentication Center will always stick to its moral ethics and abide by relevant laws and regulations, remain obligated to perform and provide the authentication and appraisal services only, and will never sell or traffic any related ancient antiques and artifacts. SenHuang Antique Authentication Center is constantly making efforts to separate the authentication and appraisal business from the trade and transactions, and is dedicated to creating and maintaining a sound antique collection market.
古文物的收藏領域裡,最令所有收藏者苦惱的就是”真假”之爭。唯有透過普世認同的檢定技術,才能消除這層困擾。當一件收藏品經過較為嚴苛的檢定被確認為真品,那麼其價值必然水漲船高。透過我們研發的鑑定技術,協助收藏家排除疑慮,並增長其收藏價值,亦可增進收藏領域的樂趣。這也是東方森煌鑑定中心的成立要旨。
In the field of collection of ancient antiques and artifacts, what seems to trouble all the collectors most is how to tell whether an antique is “real or fake”. Only through the use of the universally recognized authentication and appraisal technologies can this problem be solved permanently. When a piece of a collection is confirmed to be authentic thorough a series of rigorous testing, its own value is bound to increase. Through our own authentication and appraisal technology, we dedicate ourselves to helping collectors to clear up their doubts, helping increase the value of their collections, and thus bringing more joy and fun to the filed of antique collection. This is also the aim and purpose of the establishment of SenHuang Antique Authentication Center from the very beginning.