Free evaluations promote public understanding

Four years since the launch of the National Cultural Heritage Administration's pilot reform program in Shanghai, industry players in the city's cultural artifact and artwork market have said they are benefiting from more regulation.

Shanghai-based Duo Yun Xuan Group, established in 1900, is one of the biggest market players in the cultural artifact and artwork sector in China. The Duo Yun Xuan Auction under the group, which was launched in 1992, was the first art auction house in the Chinese mainland.

Chen Jiayong, the group's Party secretary and vice-chairman of the Shanghai Cultural Relics Circulation Association, spoke highly of the free evaluation and consulting services initiated by the Shanghai government, saying they have greatly helped build a healthier market.

"This service is beneficial to the industry. It's not only about evaluation itself, but more about public education on a correct and regulated attitude and concept of collection, which matters a lot in terms of cultural artifacts and artworks," Chen said.

"Art collection is not something exclusive to the elites or the wealthy. Instead, everyone can be an art collector and pursue such cultural and art pieces for a better life. With these services, the public is able to access professional knowledge and can be more rational in the market," he explained.

Chen said the services are very popular among private collectors in the city. As one of the designated service spots by the government, Duo Yun Xuan offers the services one afternoon each week, receiving over 1,000 visits on average per year.

Shanghai Yunzhou Antique Mall is an iconic landmark in the metropolis. Established in 1997 in the downtown Xuhui district, the mall is home to about 1,000 antique stores and dealers. For them, the qualification license for dealing with cultural artifacts matters most.

"For antique stores, the license stands for official recognition and a symbol of honor. We all agree that the industry needs to be more regulated with an emphasis on compliance. Our counterparts in other regions of China actually admire us much in having the qualification," said Wang Tao, deputy general manager of the mall.

As the supervisor, the mall has applied for the license for 83 affiliated antique stores, and is preparing for the application of a second batch. Wang said the new measures have won support from the stores and businesspeople in the mall.