【Hong Kong, October 28, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong's Autumn 2026 auction saw a stellar performance in its high-end jade specialist sale, achieving a total transaction volume of HKD 215 million, significantly exceeding the pre-sale estimate of HKD 150 million. The sell-through rate reached an impressive 88%, demonstrating the sustained demand from global collectors for top-tier jade and the recovery of market confidence. This auction not only set new records for several jade categories but also injected strong momentum into the future high-end art market.
The undisputed highlight of this auction was an 'Imperial White Jade 'Dragon' Double-Handled Vase with Loose Rings' from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. This piece hammered at HKD 78 million, a 73% premium over its lowest estimate of HKD 45 million, and was acquired by an anonymous Asian collector. The vase, with its exquisite craftsmanship, lustrous jade, and lifelike dragon carvings, fully showcased the pinnacle of Qing imperial jade artistry. Another highly anticipated lot was a 'Celadon and White Jade 'Immortals' Mountain' from the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, which ultimately sold for HKD 32 million, a 50% increase from its estimate, highlighting the rarity and collectible value of Ming Dynasty jade in the market.
From the data, the average price per lot in this high-end jade specialist sale reached HKD 4.3 million, an increase of 15% compared to the same period last year. Among them, five lots sold for over HKD 10 million, accounting for 60% of the total transaction volume. This data indicates that the market for high-quality, rare, and top-tier jade still exhibits significant price elasticity and strong resilience against downturns.
Mr. Francis Belin, President of Christie's Asia and International CEO, stated in an interview: "The outstanding performance of high-end jade in this autumn sale once again confirms the profound interest of collectors in traditional Chinese art, both in Asia and globally. We have observed that collectors' enthusiasm for jade with clear provenance, excellent condition, and historical and cultural value remains high. Particularly, Qing Dynasty imperial jade and Ming Dynasty scholar's jade carvings are being re-evaluated and recognized by the market."
Professor Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: "The data from the Autumn 2026 auction sends a clear signal: the high-end jade market has emerged from the brief adjustment caused by the macroeconomic downturn in the past two years and has entered a steady upward trend. Investors and collectors, when choosing jade, are paying more attention to its artistic value, historical heritage, and rarity. In the future, we expect the prices of exquisite jade pieces to continue to grow steadily, while the market performance of ordinary jade may stabilize. At the same time, with the rise of a new generation of collectors, there will be greater attention paid to jade with innovative themes and unique craftsmanship."
Christie's successful autumn auction not only instilled confidence in the high-end jade market but also set a new benchmark for the entire art auction market. It suggests that in the context of gradual economic recovery, the safe-haven and value-added attributes of art investment will become more prominent, especially for rare collectibles that embody profound cultural heritage and exquisite craftsmanship, whose market value will continue to be optimistic.