Beijing, May 18, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council 2026 Spring Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday. Among them, the “Jade and Vermilion Splendor – Nanhong Agate Masterpieces Special Session,” highly favored by collectors, performed exceptionally well, with a total transaction value reaching RMB 128 million and a transaction rate of 92.5%. This once again set a new auction record for Nanhong agate, demonstrating its strong momentum in the current art market.
This special session featured 120 exquisite Nanhong agate pieces, including carvings, bracelets, bead necklaces, and decorative items. Among them, a Nanhong agate intricate carving titled “Splendid Mountains and Rivers” became the highlight of the entire session due to its warm texture, exquisite craftsmanship, and magnificent artistic conception. Starting at RMB 8 million, after multiple rounds of fierce bidding, the lot finally hammered at an astonishing price of RMB 28 million, with a premium rate of 250%, becoming the highest-priced lot in this session. Another “Persimmon Red” Nanhong agate eighteen-bead bracelet, with its rare color and perfect condition, started at RMB 3 million and eventually sold for RMB 10.5 million, an increase of 250%. In addition, many high-quality Nanhong agate carvings and bead strings were sold at prices far exceeding their estimates, with an average premium rate of 180%.
Market Analysis and Trend Prediction:
The success of this Nanhong agate special session at Beijing Council's spring auction is not accidental. Mr. Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “In recent years, the market value of Nanhong agate has continued to rise. Its scarcity, cultural connotation, and unique aesthetic value are its core driving forces. Especially high-quality colors such as persimmon red and cherry red, as well as carvings by renowned masters, have increasingly highlighted their collection and investment potential. The results of this auction further confirm the strong market demand for high-quality Nanhong agate. It is expected that in the next few years, the Nanhong agate market will continue to maintain steady growth, especially the prices of fine pieces and unique items will continue to climb.”
From the data, compared with the 2025 spring auction, the overall transaction volume of Nanhong agate increased by approximately 35%, and the average unit price increased by about 20%. This indicates that under economic downward pressure, high-quality artworks, especially rare jades with value preservation and appreciation attributes, have become an important choice for collectors to hedge risks and diversify asset allocation. At the same time, the awareness and acceptance of Nanhong agate among the younger generation of collectors are also continuously improving, injecting new vitality into the market.
Expert Commentary and Market Opinions:
Professor Wang, a renowned jade appraisal expert, stated in an interview: “The collection value of Nanhong agate lies not only in its natural material beauty but also in its cultural significance and exquisite craftsmanship. In this auction, the highly over-estimated lots were all works that reached the pinnacle in terms of material, craftsmanship, condition, and cultural connotation. This reminds collectors that when investing in Nanhong agate, they should focus on its rarity, integrity, carving skill, and whether it comes from a famous master. Blindly following trends or pursuing low prices often makes it difficult to achieve ideal investment returns.”
A senior collector, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I have been following the Nanhong agate market for over ten years. In recent years, the pursuit of fine Nanhong pieces has reached an unprecedented level. The results of this Council spring auction fill me with confidence in the future of Nanhong agate. It is not just a gemstone, but also a cultural symbol and an artwork, whose value will continue to be discovered and recognized over time.”
Looking ahead, with the increasing depletion of Nanhong agate resources and the continuous deepening of market recognition, its collection and investment value will further emerge. Beijing Council's impressive performance in this spring auction has undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the entire Nanhong agate market, signaling the arrival of a more prosperous collecting era.