[HONG KONG, November 18, 2026] Christie's Hong Kong Autumn Sale 2026 concluded successfully yesterday, with the highly anticipated 'Lustrous Jade – Chinese Jades and Works of Art' session performing exceptionally well. In particular, the Hotan jade handle pieces series achieved sales figures and sell-through rates that exceeded market expectations, once again confirming the resilience and vitality of the high-end Hotan jade market.
In this autumn sale, Christie's offered a total of 120 Hotan jade lots, with handle pieces accounting for nearly half, totaling 58 items. Ultimately, the special session achieved a staggering total of HKD 185 million, with a sell-through rate of 92.3%. The sell-through rate for Hotan jade handle pieces even surpassed 95%, demonstrating strong collector demand for exquisite Hotan jade handle pieces.
Regarding the highlight lots, a 'Auspicious Beasts' carved white jade handle piece from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, with its delicate and warm jade quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and auspicious symbolism, became the focal point of the entire sale. The bidding started at HKD 12 million and, after several rounds of intense bidding, finally hammered at HKD 35 million, far exceeding the highest estimate, with a premium rate of 191.67%. Another 'Scholar Under Pine Trees' celadon jade mountain handle piece, with its unique ink-colored inclusions and scholarly appeal, also fetched a high price of HKD 18 million, an increase of 125% compared to its estimate of HKD 8 million. Overall, the average premium rate for Hotan jade handle pieces in this sale reached 65%, an increase of 15 percentage points compared to the same period last year, indicating a steady increase in market valuation for high-quality Hotan jade.
Mr. Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The success of this Christie's autumn sale Hotan jade session is not accidental. In recent years, despite complex global economic conditions, the art market, especially Chinese antique artworks with scarcity and cultural heritage, has shown strong resilience against risks. Hotan jade, as a representative of Chinese jade culture, with its unique material beauty, craftsmanship, and cultural connotations, has become a preferred choice for collectors' asset allocation. Particularly, those Hotan jade handle pieces with superior jade quality, exquisite carving, and traceable provenance are being re-recognized and re-evaluated by the market.”
Mr. Robert Ho, Deputy Chairman of Christie's Asia and International Director of Chinese Works of Art, stated: “We are very pleased with the performance of this Hotan jade session. Collectors' pursuit of high-quality Hotan jade has never stopped, especially those handle pieces with historical imprints and cultural stories, which are highly sought after. The results of this auction further consolidate Hong Kong's position as a global trading center for Chinese art and instill confidence in us to continue cultivating this market in the future.”
From a market trend perspective, the high-end Hotan jade market is exhibiting several characteristics: firstly, the collector base is becoming increasingly younger, focusing not only on the material and craftsmanship of jade but also on its cultural value and artistic taste; secondly, the investment attribute is strengthening, with Hotan jade's function as a store of value and appreciation becoming increasingly prominent amidst inflation expectations; thirdly, the internationalization level is improving, with growing interest from overseas collectors in Chinese jade culture, promoting the global circulation of Hotan jade. It is expected that in the next few years, the Hotan jade market will maintain a steady growth trend, especially for premium Hotan jade handle pieces, whose collection and investment value will continue to climb. However, the market also reminds collectors to guard against blind following, pay attention to authenticity identification and value judgment, and invest rationally.