【Beijing, November 20, 2026】China Guardian’s 2026 Autumn Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the 'Ancient Jade & Treasured Relics' special sale standing out particularly. The total turnover reached RMB 285 million, with an impressive sell-through rate of 89.5%, indicating a strong recovery in the high-ancient jade market. This autumn auction featured a total of 320 lots, with ancient jade as the core segment, attracting widespread attention from collectors worldwide.
The focus of this auction was undoubtedly several exquisite high-ancient jade treasures. Among them, a Warring States period 'Grain-Patterned Chi-Dragon Jade Bi' was hammered at RMB 48 million, exceeding its pre-sale estimate (RMB 30-35 million) by nearly 37%, setting a new auction record for similar jade bi in recent years. Another Western Han Dynasty 'Gilt Bronze Jade Belt Hook,' with its superb craftsmanship and rarity, ultimately sold for RMB 22 million, representing a 46.7% increase compared to its last market appearance (2018, RMB 15 million). Additionally, a Shang Dynasty 'Celadon Jade Taotie-Mask Gui' also fetched a high price of RMB 18.5 million, with an increase of 23.3%, demonstrating the scarce value of early jade in the market.
Overall, the average price per lot in the ancient jade segment of this autumn auction reached RMB 1.5 million, a 25% increase from the same period last year. Among these, high-quality jade pieces estimated above RMB 5 million achieved a sell-through rate of over 95%, fully proving the pursuit of rare and well-preserved high-ancient jade by top collectors. Entry-level jade pieces estimated below RMB 1 million also maintained a sell-through rate of around 80%, indicating a solid market foundation.
Mr. Zhang, Vice President of China Guardian Auctions and General Manager of the Jade and Crafts Department, stated in an interview: “The performance of high-ancient jade in this autumn auction exceeded our expectations. This is not only due to the exceptional quality of the lots themselves and their clear provenance but also reflects the increasing prominence of art as a hard currency and safe-haven asset in the current global economic environment. High-ancient jade, in particular, with its historical and cultural value, artistic aesthetic value, and rarity, has become a focal point for top collectors and institutional investors.”
Professor Li, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The data from this Guardian autumn auction paints a positive market picture for us. Firstly, the prices of top-tier high-ancient jade continue to rise, with significant increases, indicating strong demand for exquisite pieces. Secondly, the improved sell-through rate, especially the steady performance of mid-to-low-end lots, suggests that market confidence is gradually recovering. It is worth noting that the buyer structure also shows a diversified trend, with some emerging institutional investors and young collectors entering the high-ancient jade field in addition to traditional seasoned collectors, injecting new vitality into the long-term development of the market.”
Looking ahead, the industry generally believes that with the revival of traditional Chinese culture and the deepening of collecting concepts, the high-ancient jade market will continue to maintain steady growth. However, collectors still need to pay attention to the authenticity, condition, cultural connotation, and provenance of jade when investing, investing rationally, and avoiding blind following. This China Guardian autumn auction undoubtedly brought a successful close to the 2026 art market and provided positive signals for the market trend in 2027.