Beijing, December 15, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council International 2026 Autumn Art Auction recently concluded successfully. The total transaction value of this autumn auction reached an impressive 2.85 billion RMB, with a transaction rate of 86.7%. Among them, the highly anticipated jade carving art special session performed particularly well, with a total transaction value exceeding 520 million RMB, an 18.5% increase compared to the same period last year. This once again confirms the strong resilience and growth potential of the high-end jade carving art market.
This jade carving art special session presented a total of 268 lots, with 232 ultimately sold, achieving a high transaction rate of 86.6%. Among them, archaic jade artifacts, with their profound historical and cultural value and scarcity, became the focus of this auction. A “Green Jade Dragon and Phoenix Pattern Bi Disc” from the Warring States period was hammered at an astonishing 85 million RMB, far exceeding its pre-auction estimate of 50 million RMB, becoming the “Jade King” of this autumn auction, with a premium rate as high as 70%. Another “White Jade Belt Hook” from the Western Han Dynasty also sold for 32 million RMB, setting a new auction record for similar artifacts. Industry insiders analyze that the strong performance of archaic jade is, on the one hand, due to its irreplaceable historical value and artistic level, and on the other hand, it also reflects collectors' pursuit of scarce resources.
Works by modern and contemporary jade carving masters also performed well. A “White Jade Carving of Scholar under Pine Tree Plaque” attributed to Lu Zigang sold for 28 million RMB, demonstrating the market's continued pursuit of famous works by renowned artists. Contemporary jade carving masterpieces are also gradually emerging. A “Hetian Jade Seed Material 'Landscape and Clear Sound' Ornament” created by young jade carving artist Zhang Ming sold for 12 million RMB, an increase of about 30% compared to similar works three years ago, indicating that the contemporary jade carving market is gradually maturing and attracting more young collectors.
“The excellent performance of jade carving artworks in this autumn auction, especially the strong momentum of archaic jade, exceeded our previous expectations,” said Mr. Li Hua, head of the Jade Department at Beijing Council International Auction House, in an interview. “This indicates that in the context of increasing global economic uncertainty, art pieces with profound cultural connotations and scarcity, especially jade, have further highlighted their hedging, value preservation, and appreciation attributes. Collectors' investment enthusiasm for high-quality, clearly sourced jade carving artworks remains undiminished.”
Market analyst Wang Qiang believes that the current jade carving market shows a trend of polarization. On the one hand, top archaic jade and master-level works continue to rise in price, becoming the focus of capital pursuit; on the other hand, ordinary materials and craft-level jade pieces face greater market pressure. He pointed out: “In the next few years, the investment focus of the jade carving market will be more concentrated on masterpieces that combine artistic value, historical value, and scarcity. At the same time, with the rise of a new generation of collectors, the innovativeness and cultural connotation of contemporary jade carving artworks will also become key factors in their market performance.”
Looking ahead, with the revival of traditional Chinese culture and the continuous growth of national wealth, the jade carving art market is expected to continue to maintain steady growth. However, the market will place higher demands on the origin of jade materials, the exquisite craftsmanship of carving, and the cultural implications of the works. Experts suggest that collectors, when investing in jade carving artworks, should focus on distinguishing authenticity, thoroughly research their historical background and artistic value, and pay attention to market trends, investing rationally to achieve long-term stable returns.