【Beijing, November 25, 2026】China Guardian 2026 Autumn Auction successfully concluded yesterday at the China Guardian Art Center in Beijing. This season's auction centered on the theme of “Master Collections,” encompassing Chinese painting and calligraphy, porcelain and miscellaneous items, rare books, stamps and coins, and the highly anticipated jewelry and jade. The total transaction value reached RMB 2.85 billion, with a sell-through rate of 86.7%, once again demonstrating the resilience and vitality of the Chinese art market.
Featured Lots: Master Collections Achieve New Heights
The most eye-catching section of this auction was the “Family Collection of Zhang Daqian” in the “Modern and Contemporary Chinese Painting and Calligraphy” category. Among them, Zhang Daqian's monumental splash-ink and splash-color work from his later years, “Lushan Mountain,” was hammered at RMB 180 million, reaching a final price of RMB 207 million including buyer's premium, significantly exceeding its pre-sale estimate (RMB 120-150 million), becoming the highest-priced lot of the sale. Another strong performer was Qi Baishi's album of “Shrimp Fun” (twelve leaves), which sold for RMB 85 million, a slight premium over its estimate (RMB 60-80 million), indicating strong market recognition for masterpieces by renowned artists.
In the “Porcelain and Miscellaneous Items” section, a Qianlong period blue and white 'lotus scroll' double-handled moonflask sold for RMB 62 million, an increase of 37.8% over its estimate (RMB 45-55 million), highly sought after by collectors for its exquisite craftsmanship and rarity. In “Rare Books,” a fragment of a Song dynasty carved edition of “Taiping Yulan” fetched RMB 38 million, confirming the scarce value of top-tier ancient texts.
Jade Market: Steady Growth, High-Quality Emeralds Highly Sought After
As a significant component of this autumn auction, the “Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite” special sale performed remarkably. The total transaction value reached RMB 320 million, with a sell-through rate of 91.5%, an increase of 15% compared to the same period last year. Among them, a natural Burmese imperial green jadeite cabochon and diamond necklace weighing 28.88 carats sold for RMB 98 million, becoming the highlight of this session. This piece, with its rich color, fine texture, and glass-like translucency, sold at a slight premium over its pre-sale estimate (RMB 70-90 million), demonstrating strong market confidence in top-grade jadeite.
Furthermore, a pair of icy-green jadeite bangles sold for RMB 35 million, 40% above the upper estimate (RMB 25 million). Several high-quality Hetian jade pebble carvings and pendants also performed well, with an average premium rate of about 20%, especially white jade pebble works carved by renowned artists, which were particularly popular among collectors.
Market Analysis and Trend Prediction
Ms. Wang, Vice President of China Guardian Auctions and General Manager of the Jewelry and Watches Department, stated in an interview: “The success of this autumn auction, especially the outstanding performance of master collections and top-grade jadeite, once again proves that the art market, particularly for rare and well-provenanced masterpieces, possesses strong anti-cyclical capabilities. In the current macroeconomic environment, the demand from high-net-worth individuals for art as asset allocation and cultural consumption remains robust.”
Mr. Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The steady performance of top-grade jadeite and Hetian jade pebbles in this autumn auction indicates that the jade market is gradually emerging from the adjustment period of the past few years and entering a relatively stable upward channel. Especially natural jadeite with clear origins, high quality, and no enhancement treatments, as well as exquisite Hetian jade carved by master craftsmen, their value will continue to be recognized by the market. In the future, we expect the jade market to focus more on quality, cultural connotations, and rarity, with investment and collection becoming more rational.”
Expert Commentary and Market Outlook
Professor Zhao, Director of the Art Market Research Center at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, analyzed: “The strong performance of master collections not only reflects collectors' pursuit of the intrinsic value of art but also demonstrates the market's emphasis on cultural heritage and historical value. At the same time, the active jade sector, especially the premium sales of high-quality jadeite and Hetian jade, indicates the market's expectation for the preservation and appreciation of rare resources. We anticipate that the art market will show a polarized trend in the next two years, with masterpieces and rare categories continuing to maintain strength, while ordinary collectibles face greater market competition.”
Overall, China Guardian 2026 Autumn Auction, with its impressive transaction data and steady market performance, has injected new vitality and confidence into the Chinese art market. Led by “Master Collections” and the steady upward trend in the jade market, it suggests that the Chinese art market is developing towards a more mature and rational direction.