1, identification of paper and silk

According to the research of scholars in the Republic of China, the silk paintings in the late Zhou Dynasty, Chu tombs in the Warring States Period and later Han tombs in Mawangjiao were all painted on a fine monofilament, but so far, double filaments (that is, the warp is double filaments and the weft is single filaments) have not been used. From the Five Dynasties to the Southern Song Dynasty, silk developed and changed compared with the previous generation.

Generally speaking, the silk of the Yuan Dynasty was a little thicker than that of the Song Dynasty, not as thin and white as that of the Song Dynasty, and it was still in a loose state. On the whole, the silk of the Ming Dynasty seems to be rough.

2. Decoration appraisal

Painting and calligraphy decoration in each era has its own characteristics, which can be used as an auxiliary basis for dating. For example, the paintings and calligraphy collected by the court in the Southern Song Dynasty all have a prescribed mounting format-Shaoxing Yufu binding style, and there are strict regulations on what materials to use for mounting different grades of paintings and calligraphy, such as what head to use, what Zi Ling to use and what axis to use; The color, size and shaft head of the vertical shaft have certain formats.

Palace paintings in the Yuan Dynasty were mounted by special personnel, and the decorative forms of paintings and calligraphy in the Ming Dynasty were further developed. The introduction was added to the calligraphy and painting volume, some were written in words, some were imitated by propaganda and narrow edges, and some were dug with silk or silk. The longitudinal axis is divided into wide and narrow sides, and some have added poetry halls. The mounting of Tibetan paintings in Qing Palace has its unique style.

3. Seal identification

The flavor of the times of seal can be seen from its shape, seal script, engraving method, texture, printing color and so on. In the Song Dynasty, few paintings and calligraphy works were stamped with the painter's own seal, and most painters did not stamp their own seals on their works. In the Song Dynasty, the materials of seals were mostly copper and jade, and a few were other materials.

The seal script characters and engraving methods of Yuan Dynasty seals changed, and a round Zhu Wen seal appeared. Materials are wood, ivory, copper, jade and so on. And most of the printing colors are mimeographed and watermarked. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the seals of various stone materials were quite common, and the methods of seal cutting characters also had new changes. In the middle and late Qing dynasty, there were many specifications of seals and seal cutting, most of which were based on Shuo Wen Jie Zi.

4. Identification of inscriptions and postscript

Inscriptions can be divided into three categories: author's inscriptions, contemporary inscriptions and later generations' inscriptions. Although the inscription and postscript of a painting and calligraphy also denies this work, it is rare. The most important thing is to explain the creation process and collection relationship of this work, or to verify its truth and praise its beauty, so it is widely known.