Beijing, November 28, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council International 2026 Autumn Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday. The “Lustrous Jade – Important Jade Carvings” special session performed exceptionally well, achieving a total turnover of RMB 185 million, with a remarkable sell-through rate of 88.5%. This significantly exceeded market expectations, once again affirming the strong resilience and recovery trend of the high-end jade carving art market.
This jade carving session presented a total of 125 meticulously selected lots, covering Qing dynasty imperial jade, Ming and Qing literati jade pieces, and contemporary master jade carvings. Among them, a white jade 'Fu Shou Shuang Quan' (Blessings and Longevity) Ruyi from the Qing Qianlong period fetched a high price of RMB 38 million, an impressive 52% premium over its estimated price of RMB 25 million. This Ruyi, with its warm and delicate jade quality and exquisite craftsmanship, embodies auspicious meanings and attracted significant attention from collectors during the preview. Another yellow jade 'Immortal's Birthday Celebration' brush pot from the mid-Qing dynasty ultimately sold for RMB 22 million, a 46.7% increase from its estimated price of RMB 15 million, demonstrating the market's pursuit of rare jade types and exquisite craftsmanship.
Notably, works by contemporary jade carving masters also performed well. Mr. Wang Jianzhong's white jade seed material 'Asking a Boy Under the Pine Tree' mountain carving, a descendant of Lu Zigang, sold for RMB 12 million, achieving a premium of 33.3%. This indicates a growing recognition of contemporary jade carving art in the market, especially for master-level works with heritage and innovation, whose artistic and collection value is increasingly prominent.
Overall, the average transaction price per lot in this jade carving session reached RMB 1.48 million, an increase of 15% compared to the average price of similar sessions in the 2025 autumn auction, indicating a significant improvement in market purchasing power. Particularly, the number of lots exceeding RMB 10 million reached 5, while there were only 2 in the same period last year, which is strong evidence of increased activity in the high-end jade market.
Market Analysis and Trend Judgment:
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: “The success of this Council International autumn auction's jade carving session sends several key signals. Firstly, the gradual improvement of the economic environment has led to a recovery in the art investment confidence of high-net-worth individuals. Secondly, jade carving artworks with scarcity, high quality, clear provenance, or master's signatures have strong value resilience and good appreciation potential, remaining the focus of collectors. Thirdly, market recognition of contemporary jade carving art is increasing, especially for works that innovate on traditional craftsmanship and possess unique aesthetic value, which will have greater development space in the future.”
Ms. Zhang Hua, Vice President of the Gems & Jewelry Trade Association of China, also stated: “The jade carving art market is undergoing a process of structural adjustment and value revaluation. In recent years, some low-end ordinary items have been impacted, but the prices of exquisite and master works have remained strong or even risen against the trend. This shows that collectors are becoming more rational, paying more attention to the intrinsic value and cultural heritage of artworks. In the future, we expect the jade carving market to show a two-tiered differentiation, with refinement, branding, and artistry becoming the mainstream trends.”
Expert Commentary:
Mr. Chen Yu, Deputy General Manager and Head of the Jade Department at Beijing Council International Auction Co., Ltd., said in an interview: “We are very satisfied with the performance of this jade carving session. The success of this autumn auction is not only due to our strict selection of lots and market promotion but, more importantly, reflects the current market's deep affection and investment enthusiasm for traditional Chinese cultural artworks, especially jade carvings. In the future, we will continue to cultivate this field, dedicated to presenting more high-quality jade carving treasures to collectors worldwide.”
In summary, the outstanding results of Beijing Council International 2026 Autumn Auction's jade carving session undoubtedly injected a strong boost into the currently somewhat sluggish art market. It not only demonstrates the unique charm and investment value of high-end jade carving art but also foreshadows that, against the backdrop of economic recovery and enhanced cultural confidence, the jade carving market will usher in a healthier and more prosperous development stage.