Christie's Spring Sale 2026: Hetian Jade Carvings Lead, Market Heat Continues to Rise

【Hong Kong, May 18, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Spring Sale 2026 concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total sales figure of US$250 million. This exceeded expectations, once again demonstrating the resilience and vitality of the art market. Among the various categories, the highly anticipated 'Important Chinese Art' sale performed exceptionally well, reaching a total of US$85 million with a remarkable sell-through rate of 92%, representing a 15% increase compared to the same period last year. Of particular note, jade carvings, especially Hetian jade 'ba jian' (hand-held pieces), emerged as the biggest highlight of the auction, with several exquisite pieces setting new market records.

Leading the star lots was a 'White Jade Carving of Auspicious Beasts' from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, which fetched an astonishing US$12 million, far surpassing its pre-sale estimate of US$8 million, an impressive premium of 50%. This 'ba jian' boasts exceptionally fine and lustrous jade, with exquisite craftsmanship depicting vivid and auspicious beasts, attracting fierce bidding from both in-person and online buyers. Another highlight, a 'Hetian Jade Pebble Carving of Chi Dragon' ba jian, also sold for US$7.5 million, 30% above its estimate, demonstrating the strong market demand for high-quality Hetian jade pebbles.

According to Mr. Jonathan Stone, Chairman of Christie's Asia and International Director of Chinese Art, the overall sell-through rate for Hetian jade 'ba jian' in this spring sale was close to 100%, with an average premium of 25%. "This fully illustrates collectors' confidence in and pursuit of top-tier Hetian jade. Especially ancient jade 'ba jian' with clear provenance, superior jade quality, and exquisite craftsmanship, their artistic and investment values are increasingly prominent," Mr. Stone stated.

Market Analysis and Trend Forecast:

• Focus on Quality: The market shows lukewarm interest in ordinary jade, but demand for exquisite Hetian jade 'ba jian' with fine jade, superb craftsmanship, and rich cultural connotations remains robust, with prices repeatedly reaching new highs.


• Pebble Jade Value Highlights: Hetian jade pebbles, due to their natural skin color and warm, lustrous texture, have always been highly sought after. The high prices achieved by several pebble 'ba jian' in this auction once again confirm their unique position and investment potential in the market.


• Cultural Attributes as Value Drivers: Hetian jade 'ba jian' with clear historical backgrounds, cultural symbolism, or from renowned collections are often more attractive to top collectors, with their added value far exceeding that of ordinary lots.


• Increased International Buyer Participation: In addition to traditional Asian buyers, this auction attracted more collectors from Europe and America, indicating a gradual expansion of Hetian jade's international influence.

Professor Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: "The data from the 2026 Spring Sale once again confirms our previous assessment: the Hetian jade market is in a steady upward cycle. Against the backdrop of increasing global economic uncertainty, Hetian jade, as a hard currency with value preservation and appreciation attributes, its hedging function and artistic value make it a favored investment target for collectors. In the coming years, we expect the prices of top-tier Hetian jade 'ba jian' to continue to grow steadily, especially those rare pieces that combine historical and cultural value with exquisite craftsmanship."

Ms. Wang Li, a specialist in Christie's Chinese Art Department, added: "We observe that collectors' aesthetic appreciation and connoisseurship of Hetian jade are continuously improving. They no longer solely focus on the jade material itself but pay more attention to its overall artistic expression, cultural connotation, and the importance of an unbroken provenance. This prompts us to focus more on exquisite pieces that represent the highest achievements of traditional Chinese jade carving art in our future consignments."

• The success of this Christie's Spring Sale has undoubtedly injected a strong boost into the global art market and painted a positive blueprint for the future development of the Hetian jade market. Collectors and investors should closely monitor market dynamics and seize collection opportunities.