Beijing, November 20, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council 2026 Autumn Auction concluded successfully yesterday. Among them, the “Jade Brilliance – Ancient and Modern Chinese Jade Carving Art” special session performed particularly well, with a total transaction volume reaching RMB 285 million and a transaction rate of 88.7%, far exceeding market expectations. The auction results not only once again confirmed the resilience and vitality of the Chinese jade carving art market but also provided important references for future market trends.
This special session presented a total of 150 exquisite jade carving artworks, covering various categories such as archaic jade, Ming and Qing imperial jade, and works by modern and contemporary jade carving masters. Among them, a white jade carving of “Peace and Prosperity” from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty was sold for an astonishing price of RMB 48 million, a 35% premium over the upper estimate, becoming the highest-priced lot in this session. The jade quality of this piece is warm and delicate, with exquisite craftsmanship and auspicious symbolism, fully reflecting the peak craftsmanship of imperial jade carvings during the Qianlong period. Another Ming Dynasty Hetian jade seed material carving of “Hermit under Pine Trees” mountain was hammered at RMB 22 million, its rare jade material and elegant literati charm were highly sought after by collectors.
From the data, the transaction volume of this jade carving special session increased by 15% compared to the same period last year, and the transaction rate also increased by 3 percentage points. Among them, high-end masterpieces with an estimated price of over RMB 5 million performed particularly well, with an average transaction price premium rate of 25%, showing the continuous pursuit of scarce resources by top collectors. However, some entry-level lots with ordinary jade quality and mediocre craftsmanship performed relatively steadily, and even a small number of them went unsold, indicating that the market's value judgment on jade carving artworks is becoming increasingly rational, paying more attention to the artistry, rarity, and traceable provenance of the works.
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: “The excellent results of the jade carving special session at this Council Autumn Auction, especially the continuous record-breaking prices of high-end masterpieces, reflect that under the current economic environment, the safe-haven demand of high-net-worth individuals for art investment remains strong. Jade carving, as a treasure of traditional Chinese culture, its unique cultural value and scarcity make it an ideal asset allocation choice. At the same time, the market has also put forward higher requirements for the origin of jade material, the grade of jade quality, and the craftsmanship and reputation of carving masters.”
Ms. Wang Fang, a Chinese jade market researcher, added: “We have observed that collectors' aesthetic tastes for jade carving works have been subtly changing in recent years. In addition to traditional imperial styles and auspicious meanings, simple style works with literati charm and embodying oriental philosophical thought are also becoming increasingly favored. In addition, for lots with clear provenance records and clear origins, their market value can often be further enhanced. In the future, with the rise of a new generation of collectors, the innovation and contemporaneity of jade carving artworks will also become a new focus of market attention.”
Looking ahead, the jade carving art market is expected to maintain a steady growth trend, but market differentiation will become more obvious. High-end masterpieces and artworks with unique cultural value will continue to lead the gains, while ordinary commercial jade will face greater competitive pressure. For collectors, in-depth research into the cultural connotations, artistic value, and market scarcity of the works will be the key to successful investment. The success of this Beijing Council Autumn Auction has undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the entire art market and painted a clearer blueprint for the future development of jade carving art.