Beijing, November 18, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council International 2026 Autumn Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday. The total transaction volume of this autumn auction reached RMB 1.28 billion. Among them, the jade carving art section, as a highlight of this auction, performed particularly well, contributing 25% of the total transaction volume with a total of RMB 320 million, and an impressive transaction rate of 88%, significantly exceeding market expectations.
A total of 150 exquisite jade carving artworks were presented in this special session, covering imperial jade wares from the Ming and Qing dynasties, works by modern and contemporary jade carving masters, and innovative creations by emerging contemporary artists. Among them, a white jade carving of 'Peace and Prosperity' (Taiping Youxiang) from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty became the focal point of the entire auction due to its exquisite craftsmanship and rare material. The bidding started at RMB 18 million, and after multiple rounds of intense bidding, it finally sold for a high price of RMB 42.5 million, far exceeding its estimated upper limit, with an increase of 136%, setting a new auction record for similar pieces in the past three years. Another piece, 'Guanyin Statue' carved from Hetian jade seed material by contemporary jade carving master Wang Jianping, with its warm jade quality and exquisite carving, finally sold for RMB 18.8 million, an increase of approximately 25% compared to the transaction price of similar works in the 2023 spring auction, demonstrating the stable appreciation potential of contemporary masterworks.
From the data, the transaction rate of the jade carving art section reached 88%, a significant increase compared to 75% in last year's autumn auction, indicating increased market confidence. The transaction rate for high-priced items (over RMB 10 million) even reached 95%, showing that high-end masterpieces remain a hot pursuit for collectors. Mid-to-low-priced items (RMB 1 million to RMB 5 million) also performed steadily, with a transaction rate maintained at around 85%, indicating widespread market recognition of the value of jade carving art.
Mr. Zhang Ming, head of the jade department at Council International Auction, stated in an interview: "The performance of jade carving art in this autumn auction is exhilarating. Especially the high-end masterpieces, their scarcity and artistic value have been fully affirmed by the market. We see that collectors still have great enthusiasm for jade carving works with clear provenance, exquisite craftsmanship, and superior materials. This not only reflects the market's return to traditional cultural art but also indicates that the jade carving market, after several years of adjustment, is gradually entering a healthy upward channel."
Ms. Li Hua, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: "Since 2026, the global economic environment has gradually stabilized, and the art market as a whole has shown signs of recovery. Jade carving art, as a treasure of Chinese traditional culture, its unique investment attributes and cultural value have placed it in a favorable position in the market recovery. The success of this Council International autumn auction, especially the outstanding performance of high-end jade carvings, undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the entire jade carving market. In the next few years, we expect the prices of exquisite jade carvings to continue to grow steadily, and contemporary jade carving works with cultural connotations and innovative spirit will also continue to receive attention."
The success of this auction not only brought fruitful results to Beijing Council International but also set a new benchmark for the entire jade carving art market. It clearly conveys a signal: in a market environment of rational return and value re-evaluation, jade carving artworks with true artistic value and historical heritage will continue to highlight their investment and collection value.