Beijing, May 28, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council International 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday. This spring sale continued the steady growth trend of the art market in recent years, particularly demonstrating strong collecting enthusiasm and market confidence in the jade carving art sector. Multiple high-quality jade carving masterpieces were sold at prices far exceeding expectations, with a sell-through rate as high as 88.5%, and a total transaction volume exceeding RMB 150 million, an increase of 15% compared to the same period last year.
The highlight of this spring auction was undoubtedly the 'Radiant Jade – Ancient and Modern Chinese Jade Carving Art' special session. This session featured 120 carefully selected jade carving lots, covering various periods and styles, including archaic jade, Ming and Qing imperial jade, and works by modern and contemporary jade carving masters. Among them, a white jade 'Fu Shou Shuang Quan' (Blessings and Longevity) vase with movable rings from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty became the focus of attention due to its exquisite craftsmanship, superior jade quality, and auspicious symbolism. After multiple rounds of intense bidding, it was finally hammered at RMB 28 million, far exceeding its upper estimate of RMB 18 million, with a premium rate as high as 55.5%. Another piece, a Hetian jade pebble 'Guanyin Bodhisattva' sculpture created by contemporary jade carving master Wu Desheng, sold for RMB 12 million due to its delicate carving and warm jade quality, demonstrating the continued appeal of contemporary jade carving masters' works in the market.
From the overall data, the sell-through rate of this jade carving special session reached 92%, significantly higher than the average sell-through rate of 78% for this spring auction. Among them, high-end jade carvings estimated at over RMB 5 million achieved a sell-through rate of 95%, fully illustrating the scarcity and investment value of high-end jade carving art in the market. The average transaction price per lot reached RMB 1.25 million, an increase of approximately 20% compared to the average transaction price of last spring's auction.
Mr. Zhang Ming, Deputy General Manager of Beijing Council International Auction House and Head of the Jade Department, stated in an interview: “The outstanding performance of the jade carving sector in this spring auction once again confirms that high-quality jade carving artworks with provenance and stories are still highly sought after in the current market environment. Especially those masterpieces with cultural connotations and artistic value have strong price resilience and huge appreciation potential. We have observed that new collectors have shown significantly increased interest in contemporary jade carving masters' works, while traditional collectors tend to pursue well-documented Ming and Qing imperial jade.”
Ms. Li Hua, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The current jade carving market shows a bifurcated trend. On the one hand, the scarcity of top-grade Hetian jade pebble raw materials has led to a continuous increase in the cost of high-quality jade carving works, thereby pushing up their market prices. On the other hand, collectors' aesthetic and appreciation levels for jade carving art are also continuously improving, and they are more willing to pay for works with unique artistic styles, exquisite craftsmanship, and good condition. It is expected that in the next few years, the high-end jade carving market will continue to maintain steady growth, while the mid-to-low-end market may face greater competitive pressure and price fluctuations.”
The success of this Beijing Council International spring auction not only injected new vitality into the jade carving art market but also set a positive tone for the art auction market in the second half of 2026. With the continuous development of China's economy and the strengthening of cultural confidence, the collection and investment value of jade carving art will be further highlighted, and its market prospects remain broad.