Beijing, May 20, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council International 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday. The total transaction volume of this spring auction reached RMB 380 million. Among them, the jade carving art special session performed exceptionally well, achieving a total transaction volume of RMB 120 million with a high sell-through rate of 88.5%, becoming a major highlight of this auction and signaling a strong recovery in the high-end jade carving market.
A total of 120 lots were presented in the jade carving art special session, with 106 pieces successfully sold. Notably, a white jade carving of 'Fu Shou Shuang Quan' (Good Fortune and Longevity) with skin from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty was hammered at an astonishing price of RMB 28 million, significantly exceeding its pre-auction estimate of RMB 18 million, with a premium rate as high as 55.6%. This piece of jade boasts warm and delicate texture, exquisite craftsmanship, and auspicious symbolism, attracting fierce bidding from both on-site and online collectors, and was ultimately acquired by a seasoned private collector. Another highly anticipated Ming Dynasty Hetian jade 'Rui Shou Cheng Xiang' (Auspicious Beast Bringing Good Fortune) hand piece sold for RMB 12.5 million. Compared to its transaction price of RMB 9.8 million in the 2018 autumn auction, it shows an increase of 27.6%, demonstrating the long-term investment value of top-grade Hetian jade pebbles.
Furthermore, works by contemporary jade carving masters also performed well. 'Shan Shui Qing Yin' (Clear Sounds of Mountains and Rivers), a jade mountain carving made of jasper by national-level jade carving master Zhang XX, sold for RMB 6.8 million, setting a new auction record for the artist's personal works. This indicates the market's increasing recognition of contemporary jade carving masterpieces that combine artistry and scarcity.
Mr. Li, head of the jade department at Council International Auction, stated in an interview: "The success of this spring auction's jade carving art special session is not only due to our strict control over the quality of the lots and precise market positioning, but also reflects the current market's strong demand for high-quality, scarce jade carving artworks. Especially Qing Dynasty imperial jade and top-grade Hetian jade pebbles, their value stability and appreciation potential have once again been verified."
Professor Wang, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: "The data from this Council International spring auction conveys several key signals. Firstly, the high-end jade carving market, particularly ancient jades with clear provenance and exquisite craftsmanship, exhibits strong value resilience, remaining robust even during market adjustments. Secondly, the scarcity of top-grade Hetian jade pebbles determines their long-term value preservation and appreciation characteristics, making them high-quality assets against inflation. Lastly, the rise of contemporary jade carving masters' works indicates the diversification of market aesthetic tastes; collectors, while focusing on tradition, are also actively investing in contemporary masterpieces with artistic innovation and cultural connotations."
From a broader market perspective, the jade carving sector in the 2026 spring auction shows a steady upward trend. Compared to the same period last year, the average transaction price of high-end jade carving lots increased by approximately 15%, and the sell-through rate remained at a high level. This indicates that after several years of market adjustments, collector confidence is gradually recovering, and funds are beginning to flow back into this traditional and culturally rich collection field. It is expected that in the near future, jade carving artworks with clear provenance, rare materials, and exquisite craftsmanship will continue to be sought after by the market, while contemporary jade carving masterpieces with innovative spirit and unique styles will also have greater room for development. The success of Council International's spring auction undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the entire jade carving art market.