Beijing, November 28, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council 2026 Autumn Art Auction concluded successfully today. Among them, the “Brilliant Danhua – Southern Red Agate Masterpiece Special Session” stood out with its excellent transaction data and sustained market enthusiasm. This special session featured 120 carefully selected Southern Red Agate lots, with 108 pieces successfully sold, achieving a high sell-through rate of 90%. The total transaction value reached RMB 128 million, significantly exceeding the pre-auction estimate of RMB 85 million, with an average premium rate of 50.5%.
The success of this Southern Red Agate special session once again confirms its unique position and growing value in the art collection market. Among the highlights, a “Splendid Landscape” Southern Red Agate carving weighing 285 grams, with its delicate texture, rich persimmon red color, and exquisite craftsmanship, became the focal point of the entire session. It was finally hammered at RMB 18.5 million, setting a new transaction record for similar Southern Red Agate carvings in recent years, an almost 54% premium over its pre-auction estimate of RMB 12 million. Another “Longevity and Prosperity” Southern Red Agate prayer beads (108 beads, 1.5cm diameter), with its perfect condition and rare natural patterns, attracted fierce bidding from multiple collectors, ultimately selling for RMB 3.8 million, a 52% increase compared to its estimate of RMB 2.5 million. In addition, several high-quality Southern Red Agate cabochons, pendants, and ornaments were also sold at prices higher than their estimates, demonstrating the strong market demand for premium Southern Red Agate.
Market Analysis and Trend Prediction:
Mr. Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The excellent performance of the Southern Red Agate special session at this Council autumn auction is not accidental. In recent years, with the increasing maturity of domestic collector groups and the improvement of aesthetic standards, natural jade and gemstones with cultural heritage and scarcity are highly sought after. Southern Red Agate, with its unique red color, warm texture, and rich cultural connotations, perfectly meets the current market demand. Especially high-quality, large-carat, and exquisitely carved Southern Red Agate works are steadily increasing in investment and collection value. We expect that the Southern Red Agate market will continue to maintain a steady growth trend in the next five years, with the price of fine Southern Red Agate expected to achieve an annual compound growth rate of 15% to 20%.”
Ms. Zhang Hua, Deputy General Manager and Head of the Jewelry and Jade Department at Beijing Council Auction House, stated: “We are very satisfied with the results of this Southern Red Agate special session. This not only reflects our team's professional capabilities in soliciting lots and market promotion, but more importantly, it reflects the strong intrinsic driving force of the Southern Red Agate market. Collectors' awareness of Southern Red Agate is growing, and their demands for quality are becoming increasingly stringent. In the future, we will continue to deeply cultivate the Southern Red Agate market, discover more potential fine pieces, and provide collectors with higher quality collection options.”
Expert Commentary and Market Opinions:
Wang Gang, Vice President of the China Gems & Jewelry Trade Association, believes: “The value of Southern Red Agate lies not only in its rarity and beauty but also in the Eastern culture and auspicious meanings it carries. With people's return to traditional culture and the pursuit of health and a better life, the market demand for Southern Red Agate will continue to be strong. At the same time, we also remind collectors that when investing in Southern Red Agate, it is essential to pay attention to key factors such as its origin, color, texture, integrity, and craftsmanship, be wary of mixed quality products in the market, and choose reputable auction houses and dealers.”
The success of the Southern Red Agate special session at the Beijing Council 2026 Autumn Auction undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the entire jade market and painted a broader prospect for the future development of Southern Red Agate. With the influx of more high-quality resources and the improvement of market mechanisms, Southern Red Agate is expected to become an even more brilliant star in the Chinese art collection market.