【Hong Kong, November 20, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong's Autumn Sale 2026, which concluded successfully yesterday, saw its 'Warm and Lusterous: Important Hetian Jade Carvings' special sale perform exceptionally well, once again affirming the strong collecting demand and stable value growth in the high-end Hetian jade market. The total transaction value for this sale reached an impressive HKD 285 million, with a sell-through rate of 88% by lot and 92% by value, significantly exceeding market expectations.
The special sale featured 85 exquisite Hetian jade carvings. The most notable piece was a 'Qianlong Period White Hetian Jade 'Chilong' Dragon Ruyi Handle Piece,' which hammered for an astonishing HKD 68 million, nearly 70% above its pre-sale high estimate (HKD 40 million), making it the highest-priced lot of the sale. This handle piece boasts fine and warm jade quality, superior whiteness, and exquisite craftsmanship, with the 'Chilong' dragon motif vividly rendered, fully showcasing the pinnacle of imperial jade carving during the Qianlong era. Another 'Mid-Qing Dynasty Green Hetian Jade Carved Immortal Birthday Mountain Handle Piece' also sold for HKD 22 million, 45% above its estimate, indicating collectors' preference for auspiciously themed and finely carved green jade pieces.
Overall, the average premium rate for this auction reached 35%, an increase from 28% in the Spring 2025 sale, indicating that market enthusiasm for high-quality Hetian jade remains undiminished. Particularly, well-preserved, superior quality, and clearly sourced imperial jade from the Qing Dynasty saw significant price increases. Some contemporary masterworks with unique historical and cultural backgrounds or rare jade materials also attracted strong bidding from collectors, with hammer prices generally exceeding estimates.
Market Analysis and Trend Forecast:
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: “The success of Christie's Hetian jade special sale once again confirms the resilience and vitality of the high-end Hetian jade market. Amidst current global economic uncertainties, hard assets with scarcity, artistic and cultural value, such as top-tier Hetian jade, have become a safe haven for capital. Especially, Qing Dynasty imperial jade, with its limited existing quantity and representation of the highest achievements in Chinese jade culture, still holds immense potential for future value appreciation.”
Ms. Wang Hua, Vice President of the China Jade Association, also stated: “From this auction, it can be seen that collectors' understanding and appreciation of Hetian jade are continuously improving. They no longer solely focus on the whiteness of the jade material, but pay more attention to the warmth and oiliness of the jade, the craftsmanship of the work, the auspicious meaning of the theme, and the overall artistic quality of the piece. At the same time, the scarcity of Hetian jade 'ziliaos' (river pebbles) is becoming increasingly prominent, and the difficulty and cost of mining high-quality 'ziliaos' are constantly increasing, which directly drives up their market prices. In the next few years, we expect the Hetian jade market to continue to show a polarized trend: prices for fine pieces will continue to rise, while ordinary goods will face greater competitive pressure.”
Expert Commentary:
Roger Keverne, Deputy Chairman of Christie's Asia and International Director of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, commented after the auction: “We are very pleased with the performance of this Hetian jade special sale. This not only reflects our team's professional capabilities in sourcing and curation, but more importantly, it demonstrates global collectors' deep interest and sustained investment willingness in traditional Chinese art, particularly Hetian jade culture. In the future, we will continue to be dedicated to discovering and presenting more Hetian jade treasures with historical value and artistic charm to meet the growing market demand.”
The success of this auction undoubtedly injected a strong boost into the upcoming Spring 2027 sale, indicating that the high-end Hetian jade market will remain active for some time, with the scarcity of fine resources becoming the core driver of price increases.