【Beijing, May 15, 2026】China Guardian's 2026 Spring Auction recently concluded successfully, with the highly anticipated "Auspicious Jade Radiance – Ancient Jade Carvings" special sale performing exceptionally well. The total transaction value exceeded 350 million RMB, and the sell-through rate reached an impressive 88.5%, significantly surpassing market expectations and injecting strong confidence into the currently somewhat volatile art market.
This auction featured a total of 128 exquisite ancient jade carvings, spanning various historical periods from the Neolithic Age to the Qing Dynasty, including many museum-quality treasures. The highlight of the auction was a "Western Han White Jade Bi Disc with Chilong Dragon Motif." This bi disc, with its warm jade quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and grand form, was ultimately hammered at 120 million RMB. Including commission, the final transaction price reached 138 million RMB, nearly 40% higher than its estimate (80 million - 100 million RMB), making it the highest-priced item in this sale and setting a new auction record for Western Han jade bi discs in the past five years.
Another highly anticipated piece, a "Qianlong Imperial Celadon Jade Washer with auspicious 'Fu Shou Shuang Quan' (Blessings and Longevity) Carvings," sold for 58 million RMB, an increase of 16% from its estimate (40 million - 50 million RMB). Additionally, several high-ancient jade pieces, such as a "Shang Dynasty Jade Ge Dagger-Axe" and a "Warring States Period Jade Huang with Grain Pattern," also sold above their estimates, demonstrating collectors' deep recognition of the value of early jade carvings.
From the data, the average transaction price per lot in this ancient jade carvings special sale reached 2.734 million RMB, an increase of 15% compared to the same period last year. All lots estimated at over 10 million RMB were sold, and 70% of the lots sold for prices higher than their highest estimates, fully illustrating the scarcity and market appeal of high-end, exquisite jade carvings. Mid-range lots, estimated between 1 million and 5 million RMB, also maintained a sell-through rate of over 90%, indicating a stable market foundation.
Market Analysis and Trend Prediction:
The outstanding performance of the ancient jade carvings special sale at this China Guardian Spring Auction is not accidental. Mr. Li Ming, a senior art market analyst, pointed out: "The current market is undergoing a structural adjustment, with capital tending to flow towards 'hard assets' that possess clear historical value, artistic value, and scarcity. Ancient jade carvings, as important carriers of Chinese civilization, with their cultural attributes and non-renewability, can maintain strong resilience and even achieve counter-cyclical growth amidst economic downward pressure."
Mr. Li Ming further analyzed: "In recent years, with the nation's emphasis on the revival of traditional culture and the improvement of collectors' knowledge, collectors' appreciation and investment acumen for ancient jade carvings have matured. They no longer blindly pursue 'large' or 'white' but pay more attention to the jade's age, craftsmanship, patination, cultural connotations, and verifiable provenance. High-ancient jade and imperial jade, especially those with clear origins and excellent condition, will continue to be hot commodities in the market."
Expert Commentary and Market Opinions:
Ms. Wang Li, Head of the Jade Department at China Guardian Auctions Co., Ltd., stated: "We are very pleased with the results of this ancient jade carvings special sale. This not only reflects the market's trust in China Guardian's professional selection capabilities but also demonstrates collectors' firm confidence in the collection value of ancient jade carvings. In the future, we will continue to deeply cultivate the ancient jade market, unearth more treasures with historical and cultural value, to meet the growing demand for collection."
Renowned collector Mr. Zhang, in an interview, also said: "This auction showed me the return of market vitality. Especially the transaction prices of several high-ancient jade pieces, which far exceeded my expectations, indicate that truly good items will always find buyers. In the current complex economic environment, ancient jade carvings, as an asset with both cultural and investment attributes, still have immense potential for value preservation and appreciation."
In summary, the success of China Guardian's 2026 Spring Auction's ancient jade carvings special sale not only brings positive signals to the art market but also indicates that, driven by rational investment and cultural confidence, the ancient jade market is expected to usher in a new round of steady growth. Specialization, academic rigor, and verifiable provenance will be the key directions for future ancient jade collection and investment.