Beijing, May 18, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council International 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the "Jade Radiance – Chinese Jade Carving Artworks Special Session" performing exceptionally well. The total transaction volume reached RMB 285 million, and the sell-through rate was as high as 88.5%, significantly exceeding market expectations. This auction result not only highlights the strong recovery momentum of the high-end jade carving art market but also points the way for future jade collection and investment.
A total of 125 lots were presented in this jade carving session, covering masterpieces from archaic jade to modern and contemporary jade carving masters. Among them, a Qing Dynasty Qianlong period white jade carved "Fortune and Longevity" ruyi scepter was sold for an astonishing price of RMB 38 million, an increase of 150% from its lowest estimate, becoming the highest-priced lot of the session. This ruyi scepter is made of superior material, with fine and warm jade quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and auspicious symbolism, attracting fierce bidding from several prominent collectors. Another highly anticipated lot was contemporary jade carving master Wu Desheng's "Guanyin Statue," which hammered at RMB 15 million, with a premium rate of 87%, demonstrating the continued appeal of works by contemporary masters.
From the data perspective, the average transaction price per lot in this auction reached RMB 2.4 million, a 33.3% increase compared to RMB 1.8 million in last year's autumn auction. The number of high-priced lots (over RMB 5 million) also increased from 5 last year to 12 this year, indicating a significant increase in market demand for rare and high-quality jade carving artworks. In addition, the sell-through rate for mid-to-low-priced lots (RMB 100,000 to RMB 1 million) remained above 90%, showing the stability of the market foundation.
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: "The success of this Council International spring auction's jade carving session is the result of multiple converging factors. Firstly, the gradual stabilization of the global economic situation has boosted the collection confidence of high-net-worth individuals. Secondly, as a treasure of traditional Chinese culture, jade carving artworks, with their unique artistic value and scarcity, have become a preferred choice for hedging against inflation and preserving and increasing wealth. Especially those masterpieces with clear provenance, exquisite craftsmanship, and auspicious themes are particularly favored by collectors."
Professor Wang, President of the China Jade Culture Research Association, also stated: "The current jade carving market is undergoing a process of rational return. Collectors are no longer blindly pursuing 'white' and 'large' but are paying more attention to the comprehensive consideration of jade quality, carving techniques, cultural connotations, and artistic value. Masterpieces by contemporary jade carving masters, due to their unique innovation and scarcity, are gradually becoming new market favorites. In the next few years, we expect the high-end jade carving art market to continue to maintain steady growth, and those lots with academic value and cultural heritage significance will have even more prominent appreciation potential."
The success of this auction has undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the entire jade carving art market. It is generally believed that with the increasing maturity of collection concepts and the popularization of professional knowledge, the investment value of jade carving artworks will be further highlighted. Beijing Council International Auction House stated that it will continue to cultivate the field of jade carving artworks in the future, discovering more masterpieces with both artistic and collection value to meet the growing market demand.