Frontpage words - March 15, 2010
by Vivienne Chow
SCMP, page A1 & A8 March 15, 2010
Understand the title
Newly rich mainlanders push antique prices through the roof
- force the prices to extreme or unexpected heights -
1. Prices for top-quality antique Chinese furniture have increased fourfold in five years, bid up by newly rich mainlanders
- been multiplied by four -
- thanks to the high prices at which newly rich mainlanders are ready to buy them -
2. an extravagant taste for rare imperial pieces
- someone who is extravagant spends more money than necessary -
3. Ma said that the influx of new collectors had...
- arrival -
4. So much of the extant furniture has been heavily modified
- existing -
5. mainland clients preferred pieces that had an imperial connection, partly because that is what they liked but also owing to a lack of sophistication
- due to a lack of style, culture, refinement -
6. despite the exodus of furniture, some great pieces remained hidden on the mainland
- mass departure -
7. Now, with the advent of wealthy mainland buyers...
- the arrival -