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Red, bursting with exuberant vitality, brilliant and fresh, and has the meaning of good fortune and auspiciousness. Chinese love of red, deep into the bones, into a variety of utensils for daily use.
In the jade class, it is a kind of red jade unique to China - Southern Red.
Nan Hong - the twists and turns of the life, reproducing its glory
Nanhong is stunning and moving, in line with the Chinese's consistent aesthetic orientation, but its life is not like its beauty, which can be described as full of ups and downs.
As early as 3,000 years ago, it has been surprised by its flexible figure, but it was once sold out, and finally resurfaced in the efforts of people to strive.
Southern red in history
Golden Sands Ancient Kingdom (about 3,000 years ago)
The ancient kingdom of Jinsha belonged to the ancient Shu from the late Shang Dynasty to the Western Zhou Dynasty, and was the political and economic center of the time. Since its site was first discovered in 2001, many cultural relics have been unearthed, and some scholars in the archaeological community believe that the Jinsha civilization is the continuation and development of the Sanxingdui civilization, which has a more mature level of bronze, gold and jade making. The symbol of China's cultural heritage--- the sun god bird, comes from the golden sands.
At present, the earliest surviving Southern Red Agate Product --- The Southern Red Shell Coin is now in the Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum
What is less well known is that the earliest surviving southern red agate product--- the southern red shell coin, was also excavated from the Jinsha site.
Although it is the shape of a shell coin, it should not be a monetary tool. Because red agate has always been rare, it is often used by royal nobles. There are perforations at the top two ends of it, which is likely to be a kind of ornament.
Southern Red Shell Coin – Detailed Drawing
We can't verify what kind of accessories this shell coin is used for, but the exquisite shape tells us that people at that time already understood the beauty and preciousness of southern red.
Ancient Dian Kingdom (about 2,000 years ago)
In 278 BC, the Chu state sent the Chu general Zhuang Qiao to lead a team to the Dianchi area, and after conquering the locals, he stayed in the Dianchi area and established the Dianchi state because the return route was cut off by the Qin state.
The State of Dian appeared in the early Warring States period and disappeared around the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty, and existed for about 500 years in the history of Yunnan. The use of Southern Red, due to its geographical advantages, runs through the entire history of the ancient Dian Kingdom.
During the ancient Dian Dynasty, the Southern Red ornament --- ox head, which is now in the Yunnan Provincial Museum
The grandson of Zhuang Qiao, the supreme ruler of the third generation of the Dian Kingdom, loved Nanhong very much, and he asked the craftsmen to carve beetles and ox-headed playthings with Nanhong, and brought them together into Tomb M12 of Shizhaishan to accompany him permanently.
Although the ancient Dian kingdom mysteriously disappeared in history, these surviving southern red agates are evidence of its real existence.
Ming and Qing dynasties (about 600 to 100 years ago)
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring Han Dynasty, Nanhong's carving and production process was developed unprecedentedly, and it was the exclusive favorite of the royal family and nobles.
During the Warring States period, the Southern Red Onyx Dragon was first hooked
Southern red agate is closely associated with Buddhism and is one of the Seven Treasures of Buddhism, known as the "Red Pearl". It is inlaid on many dedicated Buddha statues, representing the protection of good fortune and auspiciousness.
From the middle of the Ming Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty, due to the belief in Buddhism in the palace, the Southern Red Agate entered the court as a tribute, and became the material of the imperial beads that only the heavy ministers were eligible to wear, and gradually reached its peak.
Qing Dynasty Southern Red Agate Chaozhu
We can see Qing Dynasty red and white onyx bat peach tree flower arrangements, red and white agate double fish dragon flower arrangements and so on. There are also many works scattered overseas, in major museums or personal collections.
Qing • Red Agate Eighteen-Son Bracelet, now in the Palace Museum in Beijing
clear. Southern red onyx gourd bottle, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Qing • Red and white onyx bat peach tree flower arrangement, now in the Palace Museum in Beijing
Today's Southern Red
Baoshan Southern Red Agate was once out of the mine, and the specific time and reason are different. It is probably related to the decline of the Qing government and the increasing difficulty of mining.
Since 2009, Sichuan Liangshan Nanhong New Mine has been discovered, and then Liangshan Nanhong has been mined and listed in large quantities, which has truly returned to people's vision, met the needs of different collection groups, and developed and promoted the rapid development of the Southern Red Agate market.
Scarce things are more expensive. In 2016, Nanhong became an independent variety officially included in the national standard "Jewelry and Jade Name". Nanhong has since entered the jade hall and become a valuable variety of jade.
Although the south red is floating and sinking, although it has not been seen for many years, the beautiful things are always worth looking forward to, and when it returns, it is still "full of spirits", becoming the darling of people's pursuit, and its treasure value is self-evident.
Southern Red Auction
In 2016, a "Qingqianlong South Red Agate Dragon Play Beads Double Bottle" was auctioned for 1.61 million yuan at the Yuxiang Collection - Antique Treasures Special Auction.
Qing Qianlong Southern Red Onyx Dragon Play Beads Duplex Bottle
In 2017, a piece of "Qingqianlong Tang silk southern red onyx Suzaku Button Baoxi" sold at the spring auction of the 12th anniversary of Beijing Poly for a high price of 4.37 million.
Qing Qianlong Tang Silk Southern Red Agate Suzaku Button Treasure Seal