Beijing, November 18, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council International 2026 Autumn Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday. The total transaction value of this autumn auction reached RMB 1.52 billion, with a high transaction rate of 82.5%, indicating that the art market is gradually returning to steady growth after a short period of adjustment. Among them, the Southern Red Agate section, highly favored by collectors, performed exceptionally well and became the biggest highlight of this auction.
This autumn auction offered nearly 3,000 lots, covering various categories such as Chinese painting and calligraphy, porcelain and miscellaneous items, ancient books and rare editions, and jewelry and watches. In the jewelry and jade special session, the Southern Red Agate series of lots attracted fierce bidding from numerous collectors due to its unique color, warm texture, and profound cultural connotations. According to official data from Council International, a total of 120 exquisite Southern Red Agate pieces were put up for auction in this autumn sale, with 108 pieces sold, achieving a high transaction rate of 90%. The total transaction value reached RMB 185 million, an increase of 15.6% compared to the Southern Red Agate special session in the same period last year.
Specifically, a Qing Dynasty Southern Red Agate carving of “Fu Shou Shuang Quan” (Blessings and Longevity) weighing 280 grams was hammered at a high price of RMB 28 million, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of RMB 18 million, with a premium rate of 55.6%. Another Southern Red Agate “Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl” hand-held piece created by contemporary renowned jade carving master Wang Jianping sold for RMB 12.5 million, setting a new auction record for contemporary Southern Red Agate carvings. In addition, many small pieces of Southern Red Agate, such as bead strings and cabochons, with excellent condition and exquisite craftsmanship, also performed well, with average transaction prices increasing by 20% to 40% compared to their estimates.
Market Analysis and Trend Judgment:
Mr. Li Ming, head of the Jewelry and Jade Department at Council International, stated in an interview: “The excellent performance of Southern Red Agate once again confirms its dual value as a scarce resource and a cultural carrier. In the current economic environment, high-quality art pieces with cultural added value, especially natural precious jade like Southern Red Agate, whose resources are increasingly depleted, are becoming more prominent in their value preservation and appreciation attributes, becoming an important choice for collectors' asset allocation.”
Professor Zhang Hua, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The market heat of Southern Red Agate is not accidental. In recent years, with the rise of 'Guochao' (China Chic) culture and the improvement of consumer aesthetic tastes, natural gemstones with oriental charm have been increasingly sought after. Southern Red Agate, with its unique 'persimmon red' and 'cherry red' colors, and its auspicious and prosperous symbolism in traditional Chinese culture, has occupied an important position in the collection market. In the next few years, high-quality, large-carat, and master-crafted Southern Red Agate masterpieces will continue to be the focus of the market. At the same time, investment-grade Southern Red Agate rough stones and creative cultural products with unique designs will also usher in new development opportunities.”
Expert Commentary:
Ms. Wang Li, Vice President of the Gems & Jewelry Trade Association of China, commented: “The strong performance of Southern Red Agate in this Council International autumn auction not only boosted the confidence of the entire jade market but also played a positive role in promoting the standardized mining, processing, and market circulation of Southern Red Agate. We see that the market's perception of Southern Red Agate is shifting from pure material value to a balance of artistic and cultural value. This is crucial for the long-term healthy development of the Southern Red Agate industry.”
In conclusion, Beijing Council International 2026 Autumn Auction injected new vitality into the art market with its impressive transaction data and the outstanding performance of the Southern Red Agate section. In the future, with the continuous enhancement of cultural confidence and the growing number of collectors, Chinese characteristic precious jade represented by Southern Red Agate will continue to play an important role in the art market, and its market prospects are worth looking forward to.