[Hong Kong, November 15, 2026] Christie's Hong Kong, in its Autumn 2026 auction, proudly presented the 'Jade's Enduring Grace: Ancient Jade Pendants' special sale, once again affirming the strong vitality of the high-end ancient jade market. This special session featured 85 exquisite ancient jade pendants, ranging from Hongshan culture to the Ming and Qing dynasties, ultimately achieving a total transaction value of 285 million Hong Kong dollars, exceeding the upper estimate by 25%. The sell-through rate reached an impressive 92.9%, with many lots selling for prices significantly higher than their estimates, demonstrating collectors' undiminished enthusiasm for rare ancient jades.
The undisputed highlight of this session was Lot 108, the 'Western Han White Jade Chilong Pendant'. This jade pendant, with its exquisite carving, warm jade quality, fluid motifs, and perfect condition, ultimately hammered at 68 million Hong Kong dollars, far surpassing its estimate of 30-50 million Hong Kong dollars, making it the highest-priced lot of the auction. Another highly anticipated piece, Lot 125, the 'Song Dynasty Celadon and White Jade Openwork Double Dragon Playing with a Pearl Pendant', sold for 32 million Hong Kong dollars, more than double its 15 million Hong Kong dollar estimate, showcasing the unique charm and market recognition of Song Dynasty jade carving art.
From the transaction data, several significant characteristics emerged from this auction: Firstly, high-quality, rare-themed ancient jades continue to be the focus of market pursuit, especially those with clear provenance and excellent condition, which command substantial premiums. Secondly, Han and Song dynasty jades performed particularly well, with their artistic and historical value being fully reflected. Additionally, some Hongshan culture jades with unique cultural connotations and exquisite craftsmanship also performed strongly, with selling prices generally exceeding estimates.
Mr. Francis Salmond, President of Christie's Asia and International Director, stated after the auction: "We are very pleased with the performance of this ancient jade pendant special sale. This not only reflects the deep interest and collecting enthusiasm of global collectors for ancient Chinese art, especially archaic jades, but also confirms Christie's professional capabilities in selecting and presenting top-tier artworks. In the future, we are optimistic about the market potential of high-quality ancient jades and expect their value to continue to grow steadily."
Professor Wang Mingde, a senior jade connoisseur and council member of the China Jade Culture Research Association, analyzed: "The success of this Christie's autumn auction once again confirms the resilience and vitality of the high-end ancient jade market. In the context of increasing global economic uncertainty, scarce and highly artistic ancient jades are regarded as an important store of value and investment vehicle. Collectors' demands for jade quality, craftsmanship, cultural connotation, and clear provenance are becoming increasingly stringent, which drives the market to focus more on exceptional pieces. It is expected that in the next few years, the market will continue to show a polarized trend, with ordinary collectibles experiencing price fluctuations, while top-tier pieces will continue to strengthen and even set new records."
Market analyst Ms. Li Hua added: "From a macro perspective, the increasing global influence of traditional Chinese culture has also attracted international collectors' attention to Chinese art. Coupled with the continuous growth of high-net-worth individuals in China, the demand for art investment remains strong, providing a solid foundation for the ancient jade market. However, it is worth noting that fakes and imitations also flood the market, so collectors must be cautious when investing and seek professional institutions and experts for assistance."
Overall, Christie's Autumn 2026 ancient jade pendant special sale has undoubtedly injected a strong boost into the ancient jade market, signaling that the collecting craze for high-end ancient jades will continue to heat up, and their value will become increasingly prominent over time.