Christie's Spring 2026 Auction: Ancient Jade Pendants Achieve Remarkable Results, Market Enthusiasm Continues to Soar

【Hong Kong, May 18, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Spring 2026 Auctions have concluded successfully, with the highly anticipated 'Glimpses of Antiquity: A Collection of Ancient Jade Pendants' specialist sale achieving particularly outstanding results. The total sale value reached HKD 185 million, significantly exceeding the pre-sale estimate of HKD 120 million, with a sell-through rate of 92%. This fully demonstrates the robust vitality of the high-end ancient jade market and the growing enthusiasm of collectors.

The specialist sale presented a total of 85 exquisite ancient jade pendants, spanning from Hongshan and Liangzhu cultures to the Shang, Zhou, Han, and Song-Yuan dynasties, showcasing a rich variety of types and superb craftsmanship. Among them, a 'Western Han White Jade Bi-shaped Pendant with Chi-dragon Motif,' estimated at HKD 25 million to HKD 35 million, became the highlight of the entire sale. After multiple rounds of intense bidding, it was finally hammered at HKD 48 million, reaching HKD 57.6 million including buyer's premium, a premium of 64% above the high estimate. This set a new auction record for Western Han jade pendants in the past five years. Another piece, a 'Shang Dynasty Celadon Jade Human-faced Huang,' estimated at HKD 8 million to HKD 12 million, also sold for a high price of HKD 21 million (HKD 25.2 million including premium), exceeding its estimate by over 110%. Overall, the average premium rate for the lots in this sale reached 35%, indicating the strong demand for exquisite jade pendants in the market.

Mr. Jonathan Stone, Chairman, Asian Art, and International Director, Chinese Art at Christie's, commented after the auction: “The success of this ancient jade pendant sale once again confirms the scarcity and artistic value of top-tier ancient jade globally. Collectors have shown immense interest and purchasing power for ancient jade pendants with clear provenance, excellent condition, and profound cultural significance. Particularly, high-ancient jade, with its unique historical accumulation and aesthetic value, is attracting more and more seasoned collectors and emerging buyers.”

Market Analysis and Trend Prediction:

• Clear Trend Towards High-Quality Pieces: The auction results clearly indicate that while the market shows moderate interest in ordinary jade, there is an intense pursuit of museum-quality or historically and artistically significant jade pendants. Collectors are more inclined to invest in rare pieces that represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship from specific historical periods.

• Value Resurgence of High-Ancient Jade: In recent years, the market value of high-ancient jade (pre-Han Dynasty) has been steadily recovering. With deeper academic research and evolving aesthetic appreciation, its unique primitive beauty and cultural symbolic meaning are being re-recognized. The high prices achieved by several high-ancient jade pieces in this auction foreshadow that this segment will continue to be a focus of market attention in the future.

• Increased International Collector Participation: This auction not only attracted numerous local Asian collectors but also saw active bidding from international buyers from Europe and America, particularly demonstrating strong purchasing power for high-value lots. This indicates that Chinese ancient jade is increasingly solidifying its position in the global art market.

• Transparency and Academic Support: Christie's made significant investments in consignment, authentication, and catalog production. Detailed provenance research, authoritative expert authentication opinions, and in-depth cultural background introductions greatly enhanced collector confidence and provided a more transparent and professional trading environment for the market.

Professor Zhang, a renowned jade connoisseur and member of the Jade Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics, commented: “The performance of Christie's Spring 2026 ancient jade pendant sale exceeded market expectations. Particularly, the Western Han Chi-dragon motif bi-shaped pendant, with its exquisite carving, perfect condition, and clear provenance records, made it a rare artistic treasure. The high price achieved is a natural reflection of its value. The market's recognition of high-ancient jade is increasing, and the era when jade with clear dating and rich cultural connotations was severely undervalued has passed. In the coming years, the ancient jade market, especially the high-ancient jade segment, is expected to usher in a steady upward period, but collectors still need to remain rational and focus on authenticity and condition.”

In summary, the success of Christie's Spring 2026 ancient jade pendant specialist sale not only injected a strong boost into the global art market but also pointed to new directions for the ancient jade collecting field. The trends of high-quality pieces, the value resurgence of high-ancient jade, and internationalization will be crucial for future market development.