sian phra

An amulet expert: the professional class of appraisers, dealers, and authenticators whose trained eyes anchor the market. The word sian borrows from the Chinese term for an adept or immortal. Sian phra judge amulets in competitions, issue opinions that move prices, and write the reference literature the field studies. Their authority is earned by reputation over decades and can be lost in a single scandal.

Usage

The piece changed hands only after two respected sian phra examined it.