【Hong Kong, May 18, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Spring Sale 2026 concluded successfully yesterday, with the highly anticipated 'Glimmering Fragments: A Collection of Ancient Jade Pendants' specialist sale performing exceptionally well. The total sales reached an astonishing HKD 128 million, significantly exceeding pre-sale estimates. This specialized sale featured 85 exquisite ancient jade pendants, with 81 pieces successfully sold, achieving an impressive sell-through rate of 95.3%, fully demonstrating the strong demand for rare ancient jades in the high-end art market.
The highlight of this sale was undoubtedly Lot 1008, the 'Western Han White Jade Bi Disc with Dragon Motif and Protruding Design,' which hammered for HKD 45 million. After commissions, the final price reached HKD 54 million, an almost 93% premium over its pre-sale high estimate of HKD 28 million. This jade bi disc, with its exquisite craftsmanship, warm jade texture, and excellent preservation, boasts superior historical and artistic value, attracting fierce bidding from multiple collectors both on-site and online. Another highly anticipated lot was Lot 1025, the 'Shang Dynasty Celadon Jade Bird-shaped Pendant,' which sold for HKD 18.5 million. This represents an increase of over 130% compared to its pre-sale estimate of HKD 8 million, indicating the immense appreciation potential of early high-ancient jades.
Overall, the average selling price per lot in this sale reached HKD 1.58 million, representing an approximate 43.6% increase compared to the average selling price of HKD 1.1 million for similar sales at Christie's Autumn Sale 2024. This significant growth not only reflects the steady upward trend in the ancient jade pendant market but also demonstrates the increasing recognition and pursuit of fine ancient jades by collectors. Notably, over 60% of the lots sold above their high estimates, with 15 lots selling for more than double their estimates, indicating both a reluctance to sell high-quality ancient jades and robust purchasing power in the market.
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, commented: "The success of Christie's ancient jade pendant sale once again confirms the unique position and enduring appeal of Chinese ancient art in the global market. Particularly, high-ancient jades, due to their scarcity and profound historical and cultural value, are becoming a focal point for top collectors. The significant premiums achieved by multiple lots in this auction suggest considerable room for price appreciation for high-quality ancient jades in the coming years. The market will increasingly focus on the cultural connotations, craftsmanship, and traceable provenance of jade artifacts."
Ms. Wang Fang, a jade market analyst, added: "Despite the complex global economic environment, high-end art, as a special asset allocation, increasingly highlights its hedging and value-preserving attributes. Ancient jade pendants not only possess investment value but also carry profound Chinese cultural heritage, which gives them broad appeal among international collectors. We anticipate that with further in-depth academic research and market education, the depth and breadth of the ancient jade pendant market will expand further, especially for museum-quality pieces with clear provenance and pristine condition, whose value will continue to be re-evaluated."
The outstanding results of Christie's Spring Sale ancient jade pendant specialist sale undoubtedly injected a strong boost into the upcoming summer auctions and the art market for the second half of the year. The market generally expects that in the foreseeable future, Chinese ancient jade artifacts, especially rare jade pendants with unique historical and cultural backgrounds and exquisite craftsmanship, will continue to maintain their strong upward momentum, becoming a bright spot in the field of art investment.