【Hong Kong, November 18, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Autumn Sale 2026 concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total sale of US$285 million, exceeding the pre-sale high estimate by 15%, with a remarkable sell-through rate of 88%. Among them, the highly anticipated “Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art” specialist sale performed particularly well, with a total sale of US$82 million and a sell-through rate of 92%. Amidst numerous treasures, a selection of exquisite Hetian jade carvings (ba jian) became the focal point of this auction, and their excellent performance once again affirmed the strong momentum of the high-end jade market.
The star lot of this auction, a magnificent white jade pebble 'Fu Shou Shuang Quan' (Blessings and Longevity) mythical beast carving from the Qianlong period, fetched an astonishing US$12.5 million, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate (US$6-8 million), representing a remarkable increase of 56%. This carving boasts a delicate and warm jade texture, first-class whiteness, and exquisite craftsmanship. The mythical beast is vividly rendered, symbolizing auspiciousness, making it a quintessential example of imperial jade carving from the Qianlong era. Another significant piece, a yellow jade pebble 'Tai Ping You Xiang' (Peace and Prosperity) carving from the mid-Qing dynasty, weighing 350 grams, was sold for US$7.8 million, a 30% increase from its pre-sale estimate (US$4-6 million). In addition, numerous other Ming and Qing dynasty Hetian jade mountain carvings, ornaments, and scholar's objects also achieved high prices, with an average premium rate exceeding 25%.
Mr. Jonathan Stone, Chairman of Christie's Asia and International Director of Chinese Art, stated in an interview: “The success of this autumn sale once again highlights the sustained enthusiasm of global collectors for Chinese art, especially high-end Hetian jade. We have observed that collectors show a very high bidding intention for Hetian jade treasures with clear provenance, perfect condition, superior jade quality, and historical and cultural value. Particularly, those pebble carvings that combine artistry and rarity are being re-evaluated and recognized by the market.”
Market analysts point out that in recent years, fluctuations in the global economic environment have not affected the resilience of the high-end art market, especially rare jade with value-preserving and appreciating attributes. As a treasure of traditional Chinese culture, Hetian jade, with its unique warm texture, profound cultural heritage, and increasingly scarce resources, has become a focus for wealthy collectors and investors worldwide. The strong performance of high-quality Hetian jade carvings in this auction not only reflects collectors' aesthetic pursuit of exquisite jade carvings but also demonstrates their demand for diversified asset allocation.
Professor Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, believes: “The data from this Christie's autumn sale clearly indicates that the Hetian jade market is undergoing a structural upward cycle. Especially those fine pebble carvings that reach museum-collection levels, their prices have entered a new echelon. We expect that in the next few years, with the further depletion of high-quality Hetian jade resources and the continuous growth of global wealth, high-end Hetian jade, especially carvings with unique historical backgrounds and exquisite craftsmanship, still have huge room for market value appreciation. However, for ordinary collectors, entering the market still requires caution, focusing on jade quality, craftsmanship, condition, and provenance, and avoiding blind following of trends.”
The success of this Christie's autumn sale has undoubtedly injected a strong boost into the global art market and painted a broader prospect for the future development of the Hetian jade market. High-end jade, as an asset with both artistic appreciation and investment value, is expected to maintain its market熱度.