【Beijing, May 28, 2026】The highly anticipated Beijing Council International Auction 2026 Spring Sale concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total turnover of RMB 1.25 billion, with an impressive sell-through rate of 82.3%. This represents a 15% increase compared to the same period last year, indicating a strong recovery in the art market, especially in the high-end collectibles sector. Among them, the jadeite special session performed exceptionally well, with several rare jadeite carvings selling for high prices, becoming the highlight of this auction.
This spring sale presented over 1,500 lots, covering various categories such as Chinese paintings and calligraphy, ceramics and miscellaneous items, Buddhist art, and jewelry and watches. Among the numerous lots, the jadeite special session attracted the attention of collectors worldwide with its unique charm and scarcity. According to official data from Council International Auction, the total turnover for the jadeite special session reached RMB 380 million, with a sell-through rate as high as 95%, far exceeding other categories.
Highlight Lots Review: Jadeite Carvings Achieve New Heights
The star lot of this jadeite special session was undoubtedly Lot 3001, the “Imperial Green Jadeite Carving of Dragon and Phoenix Auspiciousness”. This carving was meticulously crafted from a top-grade imperial green jadeite rough, featuring exquisite texture, rich and even color, and superb craftsmanship, symbolizing good fortune. After multiple rounds of intense bidding, it was finally hammered at RMB 85 million, significantly exceeding its pre-sale estimate (RMB 50-70 million), with a premium rate of 21.4%. Another piece, Lot 3005, the “Icy Green Jadeite Guanyin Standing Statue Carving”, also sold for RMB 42 million, representing a 40% increase compared to its estimate of RMB 30 million. In addition, a batch of small and exquisite jadeite hand-held pieces and pendants also performed well, with an average selling price increasing by 15%-25% over their estimates.
Market Analysis: Driven by Scarcity and Investment Value
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry journalist and jadeite market analyst, pointed out: “The success of the jadeite special session at this Council International Spring Sale once again confirms the unique position of high-end jadeite in the global art market. In the current context of increasing global economic uncertainty, art pieces with strong scarcity and potential for value appreciation, especially top-grade jadeite, are becoming an important choice for asset allocation among high-net-worth individuals. Top-grade jadeite resources such as imperial green and icy green are increasingly depleted, and their market value will only continue to rise.”
Mr. Li Ming further analyzed: “The success of this auction is not only due to the breakthrough in individual item prices but also the improvement in the overall sell-through rate and premium rate. This indicates that the market's awareness and acceptance of high-end jadeite are continuously increasing, and collectors are more willing to pay high prices for jadeite of excellent quality and exquisite craftsmanship. At the same time, the younger generation of collectors is also showing growing interest in jadeite culture, injecting new vitality into the market.”
Expert Commentary and Future Trend Outlook
Professor Wang Hua, Vice President of the China Jadeite Culture Association, stated: “The outstanding performance of jadeite carvings at this Council International Spring Sale reflects the market's return to the value of traditional cultural and artistic pieces. Especially those jadeite masterpieces that combine material beauty, craftsmanship, and cultural connotations, their artistic and collection values have been fully demonstrated. In the future, with the increasing difficulty of jadeite rough mining and the inheritance and innovation of carving techniques, the investment prospects for high-quality jadeite remain broad.”
Looking ahead, industry insiders generally believe that driven by economic recovery and consumption upgrading, the Chinese art market will continue to maintain steady growth. As a treasure of Oriental culture, the market demand for jadeite will remain strong, especially for top-grade jadeite with clear provenance, perfect condition, and exquisite craftsmanship, which will continue to be the focus of collectors. It is expected that in the next few years, the market price of high-end jadeite will continue to show an upward trend, and its investment return rate is expected to surpass other traditional investment categories.