The one who opposes is merely exercising his right. What is worrying are the rest who played dumb which means they condone. And the irony is why aren’t disagreements put to a vote? That’s standard meeting procedure.
And the usual committee members excuse when things go wrong is “It iis a voluntary job and I don’t earn anything from it!”
Well your mere acceptance does not absolve you from responsibility even if you are cajoled in.
I am an appraiser. You can look me up in the international society of appraisers profile. My forte is Asian. My advise is this.
Sharing groups are an impetus of your own growth as a collector- learning, discovering and growing together with like minded individuals with a common interest. Enjoy it. And have a good laugh with opinions that doesn’t agree with yours. But sharing images in the public domain subject your postings to public scrutiny which may sometimes be unpleasant to your ears for the fact that opinions can vary and differ. Everyone has high expectations towards their own property thus, trained specialists has a hoard of well designed statements to cushion the impact it may have on your ears so as not to risks offending you.
In this case, my advise is to heed only opinions by specialists that are accurately concluded once your property is physically and meticulously inspected and tested and not purely by pictures alone.
Apart from material justification which most tests results can accurately reveal, handling is as important and so is an in depth knowledge about the crafting of the object with some grounded philosophy in this case Buddhism. But if an expectant bronze figure turns out to be a big conglomerate of assorted metals, don’t you think that authentication is already established rendering the visual assessment and physical handling useless? And for what good does it bring forth if visual ascertainment and handling results no matter how convincing does not pass the material test?
One glaring feature a lot of collectors neglect is the philosophy part. Ask yourself if the face of the Buddha exudes enough tranquility and is the workmanship too frisky for sacred objects made for reverence. This of course comes with experience and specialists looks for signs such as this. And of course the obvious signs of wear and tear and aging.
Trained specialists are especially careful in dispensing negative remarks like fake or forgery quite commonly used in the public by those not in the know because at the end of the day, it is about their reputation more than anything else.
Peace be with you.
fiveloaf 