【Hong Kong, November 18, 2026】The highly anticipated Sotheby's Autumn 2026 auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the 'Chinese Art Treasures' sale performing exceptionally well, and the archaic jade section achieving new record highs. The total sales for this auction reached an impressive $280 million, with a remarkable sell-through rate of 88%, significantly exceeding market expectations and demonstrating strong global collector demand for Asian art, particularly archaic jades.
Undoubtedly, the highlight of this auction was several rare archaic jade bi discs. Among them, an 'Early Warring States Period Celadon Jade Bi Disc with Grain Pattern,' estimated at $8 million to $12 million, was hammered down at an astonishing $25 million, reaching a final price of $29.75 million including buyer's premium, a 271% increase from its lowest estimate. This jade bi, with a diameter of 28 cm, possesses a warm luster, meticulously arranged grain patterns, exquisite craftsmanship, and perfect condition, attracting fierce bidding from multiple prominent collectors. Another 'Western Han White Jade Bi Disc with Dragon and Phoenix Motif,' estimated at $5 million to $8 million, ultimately sold for $15.5 million, totaling $18.445 million including premium, also showing a substantial increase.
Overall, all archaic jade bi discs offered in this auction were successfully sold, achieving a 100% sell-through rate. The total sales for the 12 archaic jade bi discs reached $82 million, with an average price per piece exceeding $6.8 million, representing an approximate 35% increase compared to the average price of similar items in Sotheby's Autumn 2025 auction. This clearly indicates that the high-end archaic jade market is in a strong upward trend.
Market Analysis and Trend Forecast:
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: "The success of this Sotheby's autumn auction, especially the outstanding performance of the archaic jade bi section, once again confirms the resilience and vitality of the top-tier art market. Amid increasing global economic uncertainties, hard assets with scarcity, historical value, and artistic beauty, such as archaic jades, are becoming preferred choices for collectors seeking value preservation and appreciation. Particularly, archaic jade bi discs with perfect condition, clear provenance, and superior jade quality are being rediscovered and recognized by the market."
Ms. Zhang Hua, a jade market analyst, added: "The high entry barrier for collecting archaic jade bi discs ensures a relatively stable buyer base with strong financial resources. In recent years, with China's continuous economic development and rising cultural confidence, more and more Asian collectors are focusing on and repatriating ancient artworks. Concurrently, Western collectors' understanding and appreciation of ancient Chinese art are also continuously improving, collectively driving the prosperity of the archaic jade market. We anticipate that prices for archaic jade bi discs will maintain a steady upward trend over the next 3-5 years, especially for exquisite pieces with unique cultural connotations and superb craftsmanship."
Expert Commentary:
Mr. Nicolas Chow, Chairman of Sotheby's Asia, stated in an interview: "We are extremely pleased with the results of this autumn auction. The exceptional performance of archaic jade bi discs not only highlights their unique charm as important carriers of Chinese civilization but also reflects global collectors' deep recognition of their artistic value and investment potential. Sotheby's will continue to be dedicated to presenting the finest art treasures to collectors and further cultivating the Asian art market."
The resounding success of this Sotheby's autumn auction undoubtedly injected a strong boost into the global art market, particularly charting a broader development prospect for the archaic jade market. With the maturation of collecting concepts and the transparency of market information, we have reason to believe that the value of archaic jade bi discs will continue to be unearthed, and they are expected to set more remarkable records in future auction seasons.