【Hong Kong, November 28, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Autumn Auctions 2026 concluded successfully yesterday, with the highly anticipated 'Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art' sale performing exceptionally well. The high-end jade section achieved new record sales, demonstrating the undiminished enthusiasm of global collectors for top-tier jade carving art. The total sale realized HK$285 million, exceeding the pre-sale high estimate by 15%, with a sell-through rate of 88% by lot and 92% by value.
The undisputed highlight of this auction was the Imperial Qianlong White Jade 'Taishang Huangdi Zhi Bao' Seal with a mythical beast knob. Due to its exceptional material, exquisite craftsmanship, and significant historical importance, this seal ultimately hammered down at an astonishing HK$125 million after fierce bidding, far surpassing its estimate of HK$60 million to HK$80 million. It was acquired by an anonymous Asian private collector, setting a new auction record for white jade imperial seals and becoming the highest-priced jade item in the global auction market this year. Compared to similar Qianlong imperial jade seals sold five years ago, this represents a remarkable increase of 35%, fully reflecting the strong market demand for rare and well-provenanced imperial jade objects.
Beyond this record-breaking seal, other high-end jade lots also performed strongly. A finely carved Qianlong white jade 'Fu Shou Shuang Quan' (Blessings and Longevity) vase with loose-ring handles and cover sold for HK$38 million, 20% above its high estimate, indicating the market's preference for auspicious and exquisitely crafted imperial decorative jade. A group of Ming Dynasty celadon and white jade 'Eighteen Arhats' figures fetched HK$15 million, representing an approximate 50% increase in value compared to similar pieces ten years ago, reflecting the continuous enhancement of academic research and collection value for archaic jade.
Mr. Jonathan Stone, Chairman of Christie's Asia and International Director of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, commented after the auction: “The success of the high-end jade section in this autumn sale once again confirms the safe-haven asset and investment value of top-tier art in times of global economic uncertainty. Imperial jade from the Qing Dynasty, in particular, due to its rarity, unparalleled craftsmanship, and rich historical and cultural connotations, has consistently been a focal point of market pursuit. The record-breaking sale of the 'Taishang Huangdi Zhi Bao' seal undoubtedly injected a strong boost into the entire jade market, signaling that high-quality, well-provenanced rare jade will continue to be highly sought after by collectors in the coming years.”
Dr. Li Ming, a market analyst, pointed out: “Based on the data from this Christie's autumn sale, the high-end jade market shows a polarized trend. On one hand, top-tier items like the Qianlong imperial seal, which possess 'hard currency' attributes, demonstrate strong price resilience and even counter-cyclical growth, reflecting the allocation demands of ultra-high-net-worth individuals for scarce resources. On the other hand, the mid-to-low-end jade market remains relatively stable, with some categories even experiencing slight corrections. This indicates that collectors are more rational in their selection of jade, placing greater emphasis on the historical, artistic, and cultural added value of the pieces. In the future, we anticipate that the market will increasingly favor museum-quality jade with clear provenance, unique themes, and exquisite craftsmanship, while the investment value of ordinary commercial jade will be further diluted.”
Looking ahead, with the gradual global economic recovery and continued wealth accumulation in Asia, the high-end jade market is expected to remain active. However, collectors should still exercise caution when entering the market, conduct thorough research, and seek professional appraisal to ensure the value and security of their investments. The success of this Christie's autumn sale undoubtedly marked a significant chapter in the 2026 global art market and set a new benchmark for high-end jade collecting.