Malaysia Will Be Home To Chinese Antiques Authentication Service

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will be home to an authentication service for Chinese antiques following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between MIMDAS Sdn Bhd and Guangdong Han Chun Xuan Art Exhibition Co Ltd. Advisor to the programme Ong Tee Keat said the MoU would see experts from China verifying and issuing authentication certificates for the artifacts throughout Malaysia with Chinese origins. "Currently, the authentication of Chinese relics are gaining momentum in China. However, there is ample room for development and this MoU is a crucial step in cementing the collaboration between China and Malaysia. "The prospects for this programme is promising. All these years, we have been discovering a number of artifacts in our waters and there are a lot of interested parties eyeing them," he told a press conference after witnessing the MoU signing here Friday. In China, auctions of Chinese porcelain, jades, furniture and other antiques fractionally increased year on year from US$2.1 billion in 2014 to US$2.2 billion in 2015. MIMDAS Director Michelle Chuah said the establishment of the valuation service of Chinese antiques was an important milestone as it would allow people in Southeast Asia to verify and certify their heirlooms. "This valuation service will help many, especially Malaysians, tap into the full potential of their heirlooms or get true value from their investments in antiques," she added. Two antique experts from China, He Qingzheng and Zheng Ning kick start the valuation session today until Sunday. The two master appraisers will also help Malaysians verify their antiques and if required, issue authenticity certificates so that these antiques would be formally acknowledged as collectible items of considerable age. --BERNAMA