【Hong Kong, May 15, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Spring Sale 2026 concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total sales figure of HK$1.25 billion, exceeding the pre-sale high estimate by 15%, with a remarkable sell-through rate of 88%. Among them, the highly anticipated “Important Chinese Art” sale performed exceptionally well, realizing HK$380 million. A series of exquisite Hetian jade carvings became the highlight of the entire auction, once again confirming the strong demand in the high-end jade market.

The star lot of this auction, a finely carved white jade 'Blessings and Longevity' carving from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, ultimately hammered for an astonishing HK$38 million, far surpassing its pre-sale estimate of HK$18 million, representing an increase of 111%. The jade piece boasts delicate and warm texture, exquisite craftsmanship, and auspicious symbolism, attracting fierce bidding from multiple collectors both on-site and online. Another celadon and white jade 'Scholar under Pine Tree' carving from the mid-Qing Dynasty also sold for HK$22 million, an increase of 120% compared to its HK$10 million estimate. Overall, all 25 Hetian jade carvings offered in this sale were successfully sold, achieving a 100% sell-through rate and a total sales value of HK$120 million, with an average price of HK$4.8 million per piece, an increase of approximately 15% compared to the same period in 2025.

Mr. Jonathan Stone, Chairman of Christie's Asia and International Director of Chinese Art, stated after the auction: “The success of this Spring Sale, particularly the outstanding performance of the Hetian jade carvings, fully demonstrates the continuous passion and confidence of global collectors in traditional Chinese art, especially high-quality Hetian jade. We have observed that the market demand for rare jade treasures with clear provenance, excellent condition, and exquisite craftsmanship is growing, and collectors are willing to pay a premium for top artistic value.”

From a market analysis perspective, the current Hetian jade market exhibits several significant trends:

  • Pronounced Trend towards High-Quality Pieces: Collectors are increasingly demanding higher quality jade, pursuing pieces with warm and lustrous texture, natural skin color, exquisite craftsmanship, and unique themes. Ordinary materials or pieces with mediocre craftsmanship, even at lower prices, struggle to attract collector interest. This is evident from the exceptionally high premium achieved by high-quality Hetian jade carvings in this auction.


  • Return of Cultural Value: With the revival of traditional Chinese culture, the profound cultural connotations and historical value carried by Hetian jade are being re-examined and sought after. Pieces with historical provenance, from famous collections, or with special auspicious meanings, see their added value significantly increase.


  • Investment and Preservation Attributes Highlighted: Against the backdrop of increasing global economic uncertainty, Hetian jade, as a scarce natural resource and traditional art form, is favored by more high-net-worth individuals for its value preservation and appreciation attributes, and is considered an important asset allocation option.


  • Increased International Collector Participation: In this auction, not only collectors from Greater China but also those from Europe, America, and Southeast Asia actively participated in bidding online or by phone, indicating that the influence of Hetian jade is expanding globally.


Professor Li Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The data from Christie's Spring Sale once again confirms our optimistic outlook on the high-end Hetian jade market. In the coming years, we expect the scarcity of top-tier Hetian jade to further drive up its market value. However, for general collectors, caution is still advised when entering the market. It is recommended to focus on jade quality, craftsmanship, and provenance, and avoid blindly following trends. Market polarization will become more apparent, and the price gap between high-quality and ordinary pieces will continue to widen.”

Looking ahead, with the steady development of the Chinese economy and the strengthening of cultural confidence, Hetian jade, as an important carrier of Chinese civilization, is expected to continue its upward trend in both artistic and market value. Auction houses and art trading platforms will continue to play a vital role in providing channels for global collectors to discover and acquire these precious works of art.