by kyarazen » Oct 25th, '14, 00:51
just some added input on "yixing investment"
I still think the "Yixing" factory pot market has not "matured" yet. Its still in a phase that lacks clarity to where the market's going.
there's some "artificial" inflation of prices going on over here as well, recently spoke to a veteran in the malaysian field, he said that in the 70s-80s, the taiwanese/japanese came to south east asia to sweep pots, in the 90s, the malaysians came to singapore to sweep, so all in all he thinks that it is like a market corner (remember the piggly wiggly corner of the 60s?).
once cornered, its up to the collectors and merchants to decide the price, constantly and unanimously singing the songs of "no more already!", "cannot find anymore!", "last piece!", "o' you're very lucky to be able to see something like this!" etc and many more. there is some truth in what they say, but when it becomes a kind of seller propaganda it can be quite irritating.
the friend also shared with me certain mentalities that had lead to a further price inflation in malaysia, the "buy it at a future price" tendency. he doensnt know whom or when it started, but there is a degree of infectiousness. what this means is that when a buyer buys a pot, he will consider its value or price several years from now, and then agree to buy it at the inflated price because of that. i.e. a pot is actually $100 on the market now, but the seller prices it at $250, which the buyer will now put himself in a mental state or thought process that buying it at $250 is reasonable since 2 years from now it should be worth $300. this creates a bubble, and again there is "unanimous" adoption of such mentalities amongst many collectors and sellers in this region. the only question is on when the "price" of these things will peak-out, and whether the increase is consistent.
so in some way, the market remains sophisticated by subsequent inputs
1) increasing interest in chinese teas in the west and all around the world, to which eventually people would start wanting to seek out yixing wares (some even keeping a pot per tea)
2) tens of millions if not more of pots were made during the CR, subsequently even more in the 80s, and then the 90s, and all the modern purple clay work going on.
3) supply elasticities. it depends on where you are, in south east asia, after the corner, the supply became really inelastic. but if you drop yourself in the right countries and right places, you might be able to get a better deal.
4) and much more..i'm too lazy to write after lunch..
in summary : its not so clear that the "market" wants at the moment, but the sub niches of the markets can have its preferences and its type of prices. having a label on, in pristine condition can fetch good prices in some of these niches, whilst in other niches, the label is not important, by looking at the clay and material there is a different price.
Maybe I'll carefully steam it off and put it in a protective baseball card sleeve for safe keeping though. 
It just wouldn't feel right to throw it away.
Cheers!
