Beijing, May 20, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council International 2026 Spring Auction concluded yesterday, with the “Jade Brilliance – Chinese Jade Carving Art Masterpieces” special session performing exceptionally well. The total transaction volume reached RMB 285 million, with a remarkable transaction rate of 89.5%, far exceeding market expectations. The success of this spring auction not only injected a strong boost into the long-sluggish jade carving market but also signaled a new round of value revaluation for high-end jade carving artworks.
This special session presented a total of 120 exquisite jade carving works, covering ancient jade, Ming and Qing dynasty imperial jade, and contemporary master jade carvings. The data shows that many lots were sold at prices far exceeding their estimates, demonstrating collectors' enthusiasm and confidence in jade carving art. Among them, a “White Jade Carving of Immortals Celebrating Longevity Mountain” from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty fetched the highest price at RMB 38 million, an increase of 120% from its lowest estimate. Another “Biotite Jade Carving of Lotus Pond Serenity” created by contemporary jade carving master Mr. Wang Dong also sold for RMB 15 million, with a premium rate as high as 87.5%. Overall, the average premium rate for the lots in this session reached 35%, an increase of about 15 percentage points compared to the jade carving session of Council International's spring auction in the same period last year.
Mr. Zhang Ming, Vice General Manager of Council International Auction and Head of the Jade Department, stated in an interview: “The excellent performance of the jade carving session in this spring auction is primarily due to our strict control over the quality of the lots and our academic curation. We know that in the current market environment, only masterpieces with clear provenance, exquisite craftsmanship, and profound cultural connotations can win the favor of collectors. Secondly, we have also observed that after several years of market adjustments, the collector structure is changing. The younger generation of collectors has significantly improved their understanding and aesthetic appreciation of jade carving art. They pay more attention to the artistic and collection value of the works, rather than just the rarity of the material. This lays the foundation for the long-term healthy development of the jade carving market.”
Ms. Li Hua, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The success of Beijing Council International's spring auction is a clear signal of the jade carving market bottoming out and rebounding. From the transaction data, Qing dynasty imperial jade and contemporary master jade carvings are the two major engines driving market growth. Qing imperial jade, with its historical accumulation and exquisite craftsmanship, has always been a hard currency in the market; while contemporary master jade carvings, with their unique artistic style and innovative concepts, have attracted a large number of emerging collectors. It is worth noting that in this auction, some jade carving works with regional characteristics and cultural symbols also performed well. For example, masterpieces from origins such as Xinjiang Hetian jade and Liaoning Xiuyan jade also showed a steady upward trend in price. This indicates that while pursuing materials, collectors are also beginning to pay attention to the cultural background and origin characteristics of jade carving works.”
Looking ahead, Ms. Li Hua believes that with the steady growth of China's economy and the enhancement of cultural confidence, the collection value of jade carving artworks will be further highlighted. She advises collectors to focus on the following aspects when investing in jade carvings: first, the artistry and craftsmanship of the work, with famous works by renowned artists and works with unique styles having greater appreciation potential; second, the rarity and completeness of the material, with high-quality Hetian jade, jadeite, etc., still being hot spots in the market; third, the cultural connotation and historical value of the work, with storytelling or well-documented provenance often fetching higher premiums. The success of this Beijing Council International spring auction has undoubtedly injected new vitality and confidence into the entire jade carving art market, signaling the arrival of a more prosperous era for jade carving collection.