Editorial

T. Vance is the byline under which this catalogue is written. It marks the desk that reads a listing and commits to a verdict, rather than an outside authority with credentials to display.

How an entry is written

The desk reads the listing, notes the reference price in CNY on the day, and writes down the decision. Where a listing gives too little to judge, the entry says so instead of padding itself out. Nothing on this site is described from handling the item.

The two dates on an entry

Entries carry two dates: when the verdict was first written, and when the entry was last opened again. A verdict that has not moved in months is shown as exactly that, not quietly refreshed.

The limit of a verdict

A verdict here is a judgement about whether a listing and its price band make sense together. It is not a statement about the item's origin, its material or its construction, because nothing in this catalogue has been held or inspected. Where the listing gives too little to judge, the entry says so rather than inventing a reason to buy.

Arguing with a verdict

If an entry reads wrong, write to [email protected] with the page URL and the entry ID from the facts table. A verdict that no longer holds is rewritten, and the entry is dated accordingly.