BEIJING, May 28, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council International 2026 Spring Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday. This spring sale, with its diversified lot structure and robust transaction performance, once again demonstrated the resilience and vitality of the Chinese art market. Among them, the exquisite jadeite specialty session performed exceptionally well, with several high-quality jadeite carvings selling at prices exceeding expectations, becoming the highlight of this auction.
This spring auction achieved a total transaction value of RMB 1.25 billion, with a remarkable sell-through rate of 82.5%. Compared to the same period last year, the total transaction value increased by 15%, and the sell-through rate rose by 5 percentage points, indicating a gradual recovery in market confidence. Traditional categories such as Chinese painting and calligraphy, and porcelain and miscellaneous items, showed steady performance, while the jewelry and jadeite sector emerged as the 'dark horse' of the season.
Exquisite Jadeite Specialty Session: High-Quality Jadeite Carvings Highly Sought After
The 'Glimmering Green – Important Jadeite Jewelry Session' featured 80 lots, achieving a total transaction value of RMB 280 million, with a high sell-through rate of 92.3%. Among them, an imperial green jadeite carved ornament named 'Fortune and Longevity' became the focal point of the entire session due to its exceptional clarity, vibrant color, and exquisite craftsmanship. The starting bid for this ornament was RMB 35 million, and after multiple rounds of intense bidding, it was finally hammered down at RMB 62 million, with a premium rate of 77.1%, setting a new auction record for similar jadeite carvings in recent years. Another ice-type vibrant green jadeite mountain carving named 'Sentimental Landscape' sold for RMB 28 million, 40% higher than its estimate. In addition, several high-ice type and glass-type jadeite pendants and bangles also sold for prices 10% to 30% above their estimates, demonstrating strong market demand for high-quality jadeite.
Market Analysis: Driven by Scarcity and Investment Value
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: "The excellent performance of the jadeite session at this Council International spring auction once again confirms the scarcity of high-end jadeite and its investment value as a hard currency. Amid increasing global economic uncertainties, high-quality art pieces with heritage value, especially natural jadeite, which is an increasingly scarce resource, are becoming an important choice for high-net-worth individuals' asset allocation. The record-breaking transaction of the imperial green jadeite ornament not only boosted market confidence but also indicates that the high-end jadeite market will remain active in the future."
Ms. Wang Li, Head of the Jewelry Department at Beijing Council International Auction Co., Ltd., stated: "We have observed that collectors' understanding and aesthetic appreciation of jadeite are continuously improving. They no longer solely focus on the color of jadeite but pay more attention to its clarity, craftsmanship, theme, and historical provenance. The success of this auction also benefits from our rigorous selection of lots and precise grasp of market trends. In the future, we will continue to deeply cultivate the high-end jadeite market and present more rare treasures to collectors."
Trend Prediction: Market Recovery, Boutique Strategy to Become Mainstream
Judging from the overall performance of this spring auction, the Chinese art market is showing a steady recovery. Especially in high-end categories such as jadeite, a boutique strategy will become the mainstream in the future market. Collectors' pursuit of quality will be more extreme, and auction houses will pay more attention to the rarity, artistry, and cultural value of the lots. It is expected that in the next two years, with the gradual recovery of the global economy and the continuous growth of wealth among high-net-worth individuals, the investment value of high-end art, especially scarce resource-based art such as top-tier jadeite, will be further highlighted, and market performance is expected to continue to improve. However, for mid-to-low-end lots, the market will remain cautious, and the polarization phenomenon will become more pronounced.