【Hong Kong, November 15, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Autumn Sale 2026 concluded successfully, with the 'Important Chinese Art' sale achieving particularly outstanding results. The ancient jade pendant section, in particular, became the highlight of this auction. A series of high-quality ancient jade pendants with clear provenance attracted fierce bidding from collectors worldwide, ultimately closing with a total transaction value exceeding HKD 250 million (approximately USD 32 million), significantly surpassing pre-sale estimates.
The star lot of this auction was undoubtedly a 'Western Han White Jade Carved Chi-Dragon Outlined Bi Disc'. This bi disc, with its warm jade quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and well-preserved condition, underwent multiple rounds of bidding, finally hammering down at an astonishing HKD 85 million (approximately USD 10.9 million). This represents an increase of 41.67% to 112.5% compared to its pre-sale estimate (HKD 40 million - 60 million), setting a new auction record for similar jade bi discs. Another highly anticipated lot, a 'Warring States Period Celadon Jade Openwork Dragon and Phoenix Pendant', due to its unique shape and rarity, soared from an estimated HKD 20 million to HKD 48 million (approximately USD 6.15 million), an increase of 140%.
Overall, the sell-through rate for the ancient jade pendant section in this autumn sale reached an impressive 92%. Premium lots with estimates exceeding HKD 5 million achieved a 100% sell-through rate, fully demonstrating the strong demand and confidence in high-quality ancient jade pendants in the market. The average selling price per lot increased by approximately 65% compared to its low estimate, indicating collectors' willingness to pay a premium for rare treasures.
Market Analysis and Trend Prediction:
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: "The strong performance of ancient jade pendants at this Christie's autumn sale once again confirms the resilience of the high-end art market amidst economic fluctuations. Especially ancient jade artifacts with clear dating, exquisite craftsmanship, rare materials, and good provenance are being re-evaluated by the market and continue to rise in value. We observe that the buyer base is increasingly younger and more internationalized, and their understanding and appreciation of traditional Chinese culture are also continuously improving."
Mr. Li Ming further analyzed: "In the coming years, the ancient jade pendant market will exhibit several trends: Firstly, the focus on premium quality will become more pronounced, with collectors increasingly preferring to acquire 'hard currency' with high historical, cultural, and artistic aesthetic value; Secondly, the application of digital and blockchain technologies in art provenance and authentication will become more widespread, enhancing collector confidence; Finally, with the continuous development of China's economy and the enhancement of cultural confidence, the influence of domestic collectors in the international market will further expand."
Expert Commentary:
Professor Wang, a renowned jade appraisal expert, stated: "The transaction price of the 'Western Han White Jade Carved Chi-Dragon Outlined Bi Disc' not only reflects its intrinsic artistic value and historical significance but also demonstrates the market's profound understanding of the scarcity of top-tier ancient jade artifacts. The number of such works in existence is extremely limited, and each one is a unique artistic masterpiece. This auction also indicates that collectors' demands for jade quality, craftsmanship, and cultural connotation are increasingly high, which is a positive signal for the healthy development of the entire jade collecting market."
Mr. Jonathan Stone, Chairman of Christie's Asia and International Director of Chinese Art, commented after the auction: "We are very pleased with the results of the ancient jade pendant section in this autumn sale. This is due to our rigorous selection of lots and the strong support from global collectors. In the future, we will continue to cultivate the Chinese art market and present more treasures with historical, artistic, and investment value to collectors."
The success of this autumn sale has undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm into the global ancient jade pendant market, signaling that this traditional collecting category will continue to maintain its unique charm and steady growth momentum.