Antique Southern Red Agate from the Qing Dynasty

Late December 2023. A bead merchant brought back antique Southern Red Agate from the Qing Dynasty from overseas. These ancient beads are priced by gram in foreign markets. The merchant mentioned that pieces with good condition start at NT$800 per gram. This batch brought back to Taiwan... has ordinary condition. The price naturally wouldn't reach NT$800 per gram... As a result, due to the ordinary condition and the sluggish economy in Taiwan... very few were sold.... The merchant was under immense pressure.... In March 2024, coincidentally, someone needed to repay a debt and had some spare cash... so a few pieces were acquired... In Taiwan, antique Southern Red Agate was often seen as spacer beads on Tibetan Buddhist mala beads 20-30 years ago... Later, after mainland Chinese collectors aggressively bought and drove up prices... it became difficult to find antique Southern Red Agate used as spacer beads on mala beads. Often, they would be dismantled and sold individually... The "Lao Gao Bai" (which refers to old ivory) three-hole mala head, commonly seen, is often one of these pieces dismantled from a full mala string and sold separately. This Qing Dynasty antique Southern Red Agate weighs 6.87 grams. Acquired at a low price, selling at a low price. At this time when everything is rising in price, people are struggling to make a living... and the antique world is experiencing extreme highs and lows... As long as the cost of gas, tolls, and parking (NT$200 for 2 hours) can be recovered, and a pork chop and double side dish bento box for NT$150 can be enjoyed... I will be content!!!