Nanhong Agate Market Continues to Heat Up: A 'Fortune and Longevity' Ornament Breaks One Million, Demonstrating Collector Confidence

Nanhong Agate Market Continues to Heat Up: A 'Fortune and Longevity' Ornament Breaks One Million, Demonstrating Collector Confidence

[March 15, 2026, London/Hong Kong] On March 12, 2026, at Bonhams' highly anticipated Spring Auction of Asian Art, a Mid-Qing Dynasty Southern Red Agate carving of 'Fortune and Longevity' ornament fetched an impressive 1,017,133 RMB, far exceeding its estimate range of 438,093 to 876,186 RMB. This outcome once again confirms the strong performance and growing collection value of Nanhong agate in the art market.

#### Auction Highlight and Market Performance

The 'Fortune and Longevity' ornament, with its exquisite craftsmanship, rich color, and auspicious symbolism, captured the attention of collectors worldwide. This piece, crafted from superior Sichuan Nanhong agate, boasts a vibrant red hue and a delicate, warm texture. It depicts two bats encircling a peach, symbolizing 'Fortune and Longevity', a typical representation of auspicious jade carvings from the Mid-Qing Dynasty. Its final hammer price not only broke the one-million mark but also surpassed the high estimate by nearly 16%, fully demonstrating the strong demand and recognition for high-quality Nanhong agate artworks in the market.

#### Collection Value and Market Trends of Nanhong Agate

In recent years, Nanhong agate, as a treasure of traditional Chinese jade, has seen its market value continuously rise. The reasons are primarily as follows:

• Resource Scarcity: High-quality Nanhong agate mineral resources are increasingly depleted, especially those with pure color and fine texture from Sichuan and Baoshan, which are extremely rare. Scarcity drives value, and the limited availability of resources is the fundamental driver of its price increase.


• Profound Cultural Heritage: Nanhong agate has a history of thousands of years in China, regarded as one of the Seven Treasures of Buddhism, symbolizing auspiciousness and warding off evil. Its unique red color in traditional Chinese culture represents festivity, wealth, and good fortune, making it deeply beloved by the Chinese people.


• Craftsmanship Value: Excellent Nanhong agate carvings not only depend on the quality of the raw stone but also test the skill of the carver. The 'Fortune and Longevity' ornament, with its smooth, flowing lines and vivid, lifelike forms, exemplifies the pinnacle of Mid-Qing jade carving artistry, endowing the piece with higher artistic value.


• Investment Hedge Property: Amid increasing global economic uncertainty, art and rare gemstones, as tangible assets, have increasingly demonstrated their value preservation and appreciation attributes. Nanhong agate, with its stable market performance and continuous appreciation potential, has become a favored hedge asset for collectors and investors.

The success of this Bonhams auction undoubtedly injects new vitality and confidence into the Nanhong agate market. In the future, we anticipate that the Nanhong agate market will remain active, with high-quality, master-carved, and well-provenanced pieces continuing to be highly sought after. Concurrently, with the growing youthfulness and internationalization of the collector base, the cultural value and artistic charm of Nanhong agate will be further recognized and appreciated by global collectors.

However, investors and collectors should remain rational when entering the market. The Nanhong agate market also faces issues such as uneven quality and counterfeiting. Therefore, choosing reputable auction houses and professional institutions, enhancing connoisseurship, and thoroughly verifying the material, craftsmanship, and provenance of auction items are crucial for mitigating risks and maximizing value. The million-dollar sale of the 'Fortune and Longevity' ornament is not only a testament to its intrinsic value but also a positive signal for the healthy development of the Nanhong agate market, indicating that this ancient and beautiful gemstone will continue to shine brightly in the future art market.