Beijing, May 18, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council 2026 Spring Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday. Among them, the Southern Red Agate special session performed exceptionally well, with a total transaction value exceeding 100 million yuan, once again confirming the strong momentum of this rare jade in the art market. This special session featured 120 exquisite Southern Red Agate pieces, with 108 pieces successfully sold, achieving a high transaction rate of 90%. The total transaction value reached RMB 125 million, an 18.5% increase compared to the same period last year.
The highlight of this auction was undoubtedly several top-tier Southern Red Agate carvings. Among them, a Qing Dynasty 'Southern Red Agate Carving of Immortals Celebrating Longevity' with its warm texture, rich persimmon red color, and exquisite craftsmanship, started at RMB 8 million. After multiple rounds of fierce bidding, it finally sold for a high price of RMB 22.5 million, with a premium rate of 181.25%, becoming the highest-priced lot of the session. Another modern 'Southern Red Agate Carving of Guanyin' also performed well, selling for RMB 12.8 million, far exceeding its estimated price of RMB 5 million, demonstrating the huge market potential of contemporary masterworks. In addition, several well-preserved Southern Red Agate bracelets, bead necklaces, and natural rough stones were all sold at 1.5 to 2 times their estimated prices, with an average premium rate of approximately 65%.
Mr. Zhang Ming, Deputy General Manager and Head of the Jade Department at Council Auction House, stated in an interview: “The success of this Southern Red Agate special session once again proves collectors' enthusiasm for fine Southern Red Agate. We observe that the market demand for Southern Red Agate with clear origins, pure color, and exquisite carving remains strong. Especially old Southern Red Agate from the Qing Dynasty and Republic of China periods, due to its scarcity and historical and cultural value, has maintained firm prices. At the same time, contemporary master-carved Southern Red Agate works are gradually gaining attention, and their artistic value and collection potential are being re-evaluated by the market.”
Ms. Li Hua, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out that the Southern Red Agate market has shown a steady upward trend in recent years. She analyzed: “Firstly, the scarcity of Southern Red Agate resources is the fundamental reason for its continuous rise in value. High-quality Southern Red Agate raw materials are increasingly depleted, leading to persistent tight market supply. Secondly, with the continuous development of the domestic economy and the strengthening of cultural confidence, more and more collectors are beginning to pay attention to indigenous traditional jade culture. As a unique and precious Chinese jade, Southern Red Agate's cultural attributes and aesthetic value have been widely recognized. Finally, its investment attribute is also increasingly prominent. In the current complex economic environment, physical assets with scarcity and artistic value, such as high-quality Southern Red Agate, have become a preferred choice for many investors to hedge risks and achieve asset preservation and appreciation.”
Looking ahead, the industry generally believes that the Southern Red Agate market will continue to grow. However, experts also remind collectors to remain rational when investing in Southern Red Agate and be wary of 'conceptual speculation' in the market. It is recommended to focus on exquisite pieces with clear origins, first-class condition, exquisite craftsmanship, and a clear lineage. At the same time, with the advancement of technology, appraisal techniques will continue to improve, which will help further regulate the market and protect collectors' interests. The success of Beijing Council's spring auction undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the Southern Red Agate market in 2026 and the coming years, indicating that its collection value and investment potential will continue to be explored and recognized by the market.