【Beijing, November 20, 2026】China Guardian's 2026 Autumn Auction recently concluded successfully, achieving a total transaction volume of RMB 2.85 billion, a 15.3% increase compared to the 2025 autumn auction, with a sell-through rate of 82.5%. This demonstrates a strong recovery trend in the art market, particularly in the high-ancient jade sector.
In this autumn auction, the ancient jade special session performed exceptionally well, with a total transaction volume exceeding RMB 320 million, setting a new five-year high for the same category, and a sell-through rate as high as 91.8%. Among them, a Warring States period “Green Jade Dragon-shaped Pendant” was sold for an astonishing price of RMB 85 million, far exceeding its pre-auction estimate (RMB 30 million - 50 million), becoming the “King of Jade” in this autumn auction, with a premium rate of 70%. Another Western Han “White Jade Belt Hook” also sold for RMB 42 million, exceeding the upper limit of its estimate by 30%. In addition, a batch of typical artifacts from the Shang, Zhou, and Han dynasties, such as jade bi, jade cong, and jade huang, all performed well, with an average premium rate exceeding 25%.
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: “The performance of high-ancient jade in this Guardian autumn auction undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the market. The high-premium transactions, especially for exquisite pieces with clear provenance, perfect condition, and rich cultural connotations, once again prove the pursuit of scarce resources by top collectors. This is not only an influx of capital but also a deep recognition of the historical and artistic value of high-ancient jade.”
Ms. Wang Li, Vice President of China Guardian Auctions and Head of the Jade Department, stated in an interview: “We have observed that in recent years, more and more young collectors have begun to pay attention to high-ancient jade. They not only value its investment attributes but also have a strong interest in the Chinese civilization history it embodies. The success of this autumn auction also benefits from our strict control over the consignment standards and accurate judgment of market trends. In the future, we will invest more resources in the academic research and market promotion of high-ancient jade to further enhance its market value and influence.”
From a market trend perspective, after a period of adjustment in the past few years, the high-ancient jade sector is gradually entering a steady upward channel. On the one hand, the gradual global economic recovery provides a good macro environment for the art market; on the other hand, the enhancement of domestic cultural confidence and the increasing emphasis on traditional culture and art have continuously expanded the collection group of high-ancient jade. Especially those exquisite pieces with clear dating, unique craftsmanship, or documented in important literature, have strong price resilience and huge appreciation potential.
However, market participants also remind that the threshold for appreciating high-ancient jade is high, and fakes are rampant. For ordinary investors, caution is still needed. It is recommended that collectors seek professional appraisal opinions when purchasing and prioritize reputable and experienced auction houses or galleries. In the future, with the advancement of technological appraisal methods and the deepening of academic research, the transparency and standardization of the high-ancient jade market will be further improved, and its investment value will become more prominent.