BEIJING, May 18, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council 2026 Spring Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday. The total transaction value of this spring auction reached RMB 1.25 billion, with a high sell-through rate of 82.3%. Among them, the “Jade and Curios” special session, favored by collectors, performed particularly well, with a transaction value exceeding RMB 280 million and a sell-through rate of 91.5%. In particular, the Hetian jade pendant section, with its stable market demand and increasingly scarce high-quality resources, once again became the focus of the entire auction. Many exquisite pieces were sold at prices far exceeding their estimates, demonstrating the strong resilience of the high-end Hetian jade market.
In this spring auction, a Qing Dynasty Hetian jade seed material auspicious beast pendant named “Auspicious Beast Presenting Good Fortune” became the star lot of the auction due to its warm jade quality, exquisite carving, and auspicious meaning. The pendant started at RMB 8 million. After several rounds of fierce bidding, it finally hammered at a high price of RMB 22.5 million, an premium of 181.25% over the starting price, far exceeding the previous highest estimate of RMB 12 million. It was acquired by an anonymous telephone bidder. Another highly anticipated “Abundance Year After Year” Hetian white jade pendant, estimated between RMB 3 million and RMB 5 million, finally sold for RMB 8.8 million, an increase of 193.33%. In addition, several mid-range Hetian jade pendants estimated between RMB 500,000 and RMB 2 million also performed well, with an average transaction price increasing by about 35% compared to the estimate, and an overall sell-through rate close to 100%.
Market Analysis and Trend Judgment:
Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, stated: “The excellent performance of Hetian jade pendants at this Council spring auction once again confirms the anti-depreciation and investment value of the high-end Hetian jade market. In the current macroeconomic environment, collectors’ pursuit of scarce resources and value-preserving and appreciating art pieces is becoming increasingly evident. In particular, Hetian jade seed material pendants with historical and cultural heritage, superior jade quality, and exquisite craftsmanship, their scarcity determines the continuous upward space for their prices. It is expected that in the next few years, the price of top-grade Hetian jade seed material will continue to maintain a steady upward trend, and the market demand for mid-to-high-end Hetian jade pendants will also remain strong.”
From the data, the supply of high-quality Hetian jade seed material continues to decrease, while market demand continues to grow. This has led to a continuous increase in the value of exquisite Hetian jade pendants. In this auction, high-premium transactions were mostly concentrated in seed material works with delicate jade quality, rich oiliness, and exquisite carving. This indicates that collectors’ appreciation level for Hetian jade is increasing, and they pay more attention to the combination of its natural attributes and artistic value.
Expert Commentary:
Professor Wang Qiang, Vice President of the China Jade Culture Association, pointed out: “The success of Hetian jade pendants at this Council spring auction is not only a manifestation of market confidence but also a reaffirmation of the value of traditional Chinese jade culture. Especially those ancient jade pendants with clear provenance and good condition, their cultural value and historical significance are immeasurable. At the same time, we also see that the exquisite works of contemporary jade carving masters are gradually gaining market recognition, but compared with ancient jade, their price system is still being gradually established. For ordinary collectors, when investing in Hetian jade pendants, they should focus on jade quality, craftsmanship, cultural connotation, and provenance, rather than blindly chasing high prices.”
Looking ahead, with the revival of traditional Chinese culture and consumption upgrading, the market potential of Hetian jade pendants remains huge. However, market differentiation will also become more obvious, and the price gap between high-end and ordinary products will further widen. Collectors need to be more cautious when entering the market, and professional knowledge and discerning eyes will be the key to success.