【Hong Kong, May 18, 2026】Christie's, a leading global art auction house, successfully concluded its highly anticipated 'Treasures from the Golden Age: Ancient Jade Pendants' specialist sale during the recently concluded Spring 2026 Auctions. The sale once again underscored the robust vitality of the high-end ancient jade market. A total of 120 exquisite ancient jade pendants were presented in this sale, with 108 pieces successfully sold, achieving an impressive sell-through rate of 90%. The total sale value reached an astonishing HKD 158 million, significantly exceeding the pre-sale estimate of HKD 120 million, demonstrating collectors' sustained pursuit of rare ancient jades.
The highlight of this sale was undoubtedly the 'Western Han White Jade Chi-Dragon Pendant,' which had the highest estimate. This pendant, featuring exquisite carving and a warm, lustrous jade, was finally hammered at HKD 38 million, an increase of 90% from its HKD 20 million estimate, making it the top lot of the sale. Another 'Warring States Green Jade Dragon-Shaped Pendant' also performed exceptionally well, selling for HKD 22 million, double its estimate. Overall, the average premium rate for the lots in this sale reached 32%, with over half of the lots selling for more than 20% above their estimates, fully reflecting the strong market demand for high-quality, clearly provenanced ancient jade pendants.
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: "The success of Christie's Spring 2026 ancient jade pendant sale is not accidental. In recent years, with the global economic recovery and the increasing interest of high-net-worth individuals in cultural and art investments, the Chinese ancient art market has continued to heat up. Ancient jade, in particular, with its profound historical and cultural heritage, scarcity, and artistic value, has become a focal point for collectors. In this auction, high-premium sales were mostly for perfectly preserved, well-provenanced masterpieces, indicating that collectors are increasingly prioritizing quality and reliability of provenance when investing."
Ms. Wang Fang, an ancient jade market commentator, also stated: "From the results of this auction, it is clear that the market highly recognizes ancient jade pendants with unique historical backgrounds and exquisite craftsmanship. Jade pieces from the Han Dynasty and earlier, in particular, often fetch surprisingly high prices due to their rarity and significant research value. Younger generations of collectors are also beginning to pay attention to ancient jade, appreciating not only its investment value but also the Eastern aesthetics and cultural connotations it embodies. This trend will inject new vitality into the ancient jade market."
Looking ahead, the ancient jade pendant market is expected to maintain steady growth. On the one hand, the improving global economic environment and the trend of diversified art investments will continue to attract more capital inflows; on the other hand, as the knowledge level and connoisseurship of collecting groups improve, the demand for exquisite ancient jade will further expand. However, the market also faces challenges, such as rampant fakes and a scarcity of professional appraisal talent. Auction houses and industry associations need to work together to strengthen regulation and elevate appraisal standards to ensure the healthy development of the market.
The President of Christie's Asia expressed: "We are very pleased with the results of this ancient jade pendant sale. This not only demonstrates Christie's expertise in selecting and presenting top-tier artworks but also reaffirms the important position of Chinese ancient art in the global art market. We will continue to be committed to providing collectors with the highest quality artworks and the most professional services, jointly promoting the prosperity of the art market." The success of this auction undoubtedly provided a strong boost to the 2026 art market, signaling that the ancient jade collecting craze will continue to intensify.