【Beijing, November 15, 2026】China Guardian's 2026 Autumn Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the “Golden Bronze and Auspicious Jade – Archaic Jades Specialist Sale” particularly standing out. The total sales volume for this session exceeded 350 million RMB, with a remarkable sell-through rate of 88.5%, significantly surpassing market expectations. The success of this auction not only injected a strong dose of confidence into the long-sluggish art market but also signaled a robust recovery in the archaic jade sector.
The star lot of this specialist sale was undoubtedly the “Late Warring States Period Celadon Jade Openwork Bi Disc with Dragon and Phoenix Motif”. With its exquisite craftsmanship, rare motifs, and excellent condition, this jade bi disc was hammered at 82 million RMB, reaching a final price of 94.3 million RMB including buyer's premium, an increase of 34.7% over its estimate (50-70 million RMB). Another highly anticipated lot, the “Western Han Dynasty White Jade Belt Hook with Chi Dragon Motif”, also fetched 45 million RMB, exceeding its estimate (28-35 million RMB) by over 28%. Furthermore, several exquisite jade pieces from the Han to Tang dynasties performed well, with an average premium rate exceeding 20%, demonstrating collectors' strong pursuit of high-quality archaic jades.
Mr. Wang, Vice President of China Guardian Auctions Co., Ltd. and General Manager of the Jade and Crafts Department, stated in an interview: “The outstanding results of this autumn auction's archaic jade specialist sale are primarily due to our strict control over consignment sourcing and in-depth academic research. Every jade piece offered for sale has undergone authentication by multiple experts, ensuring its historical and artistic value. Secondly, market awareness and collecting enthusiasm for archaic jades are gradually increasing, especially for those exquisite pieces with clear provenance, intact condition, and rich cultural connotations, whose value is being rediscovered and affirmed.”
Professor Li, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “Judging from the data of this Guardian autumn auction, the archaic jade market has shown a clear structural recovery. Prices for high-end exquisite pieces continue to rise, reflecting top collectors' pursuit of scarce resources. The mid-range market has also shown steady growth, indicating that ordinary collectors also have a strong interest in jades with certain historical and artistic value. It is noteworthy that jades from the Warring States and Han dynasties performed particularly well in this auction; their superb carving techniques and profound cultural heritage are key attractions for collectors. It is expected that the archaic jade market will continue to maintain a steady growth trend in the next three years, especially for artifacts with clear provenance, intact condition, and unique cultural symbols, whose investment value will be further highlighted.”
However, market participants also caution that collectors still need to remain rational as the market recovers. Professor Zhang from the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University emphasized: “The threshold for authenticating archaic jades is high, and fakes are rampant in the market. Collectors must keep their eyes open when investing, choosing reputable auction houses and professional appraisal institutions. At the same time, for jades with average condition, unremarkable cultural value, or unknown provenance, investment risks still exist.”
Overall, the success of China Guardian's 2026 Autumn Auction's archaic jade specialist sale not only injected confidence into the industry but also provided an important reference for future market trends. Against the backdrop of a gradually recovering economy, archaic jades, as important carriers of Chinese civilization, are attracting more and more collectors and investors with their unique artistic charm and historical value.