Pristine Branding Iron

Occasionally while working towards finishing the common Mogu artifacts, you actually end up completing a 'Pristine' version of the artifact instead. Hand in the subsequent quest at the Seat of Knowledge in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms (there is nothing else that needs to be done) and you'll receive one Mogu Statue Piece and 3x [item=87399] (which is an archaeological currency for MoP).

The location 'The Seat of Knowledge' for all hand-ins to [npc=61962] is above the [zone=6182] in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms and can only be accessed with flying.

Getting ALL Pandaren and Mogu 'Pristine' artifacts will also earn you the achievement The Seat of Knowledge.

It's also worth noting that while you can accept these 'Pristine' quests at level 85 (as soon as you get the quest item), you physically cannot reach the area you need to hand in at until you're 90 or unless you get a level 90 friend with a two-person flying mount to taxi you up there. You'll already know this, if you've managed to leg it into the zone (like me) and stood mere inches away from the hand in, with no ability to actually get to it. Lock summons can also do the trick here (this is also the part where we lament the good old days of mass summoning). Otherwise, be patient and wait till you're big and bad enough to do it yourself!

The following is a list of all possible 'Pristine' Mogu artifacts:

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• [item=79915] can instead become [item=89176] which gives you Pristine Branding Iron
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• [item=79913] can instead become [item=89174] which gives you Pristine Edicts of the Thunder King
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• [item=79914] can instead become [item=89175] which gives you Pristine Iron Amulet
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• [item=79908] can instead become [item=89169] which gives you Pristine Manacles of Rebellion
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• [item=79916] can instead become [item=85477] which gives you Pristine Mogu Coin
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• [item=79909] can instead become [item=89170] which gives you Pristine Mogu Runestone
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• [item=79917] can instead become [item=89209] which gives you Pristine Monument Ledger
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• [item=79911] can instead become [item=89172] which gives you Pristine Petrified Bone Whip
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• [item=79910] can instead become [item=89171] which gives you Pristine Terracotta Arm
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• [item=79912] can instead become [item=89173] which gives you Pristine Thunder King Insignia
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You can have multiple Pristines in your bags/quest log. You don't have to turn in one before you get another one :)

Be sure to read the nice plaque description of each pristine item once you turn it in for display at the Seat of Knowledge. The lore and backstory are interesting:

Warlord's Branding Iron

This branding iron emblazoned with the symbol of a minor Mogu warlord was used not on cattle, but on enslaved humanoids.

This specimen was donated by the esteemed <class>, <Name>.