Beijing, November 28, 2026 – The highly anticipated Beijing Council 2026 Autumn Auction concluded successfully yesterday. This auction garnered widespread attention for its exquisite jade carving art specialist session. The results show that the high-end jade carving market continues to maintain strong growth momentum, with masterpieces emerging frequently and prices repeatedly reaching new highs, injecting new vitality into the current art market.
Impressive Transaction Data, Outstanding Performance of High-End Masterpieces
The jade carving specialist session of this autumn auction featured a total of 120 lots, with 108 pieces successfully sold, achieving a high sell-through rate of 90%. The total transaction value reached RMB 285 million, an increase of 18.7% compared to the same period last year. Among them, several heavyweight lots performed particularly well.
The leading lot, a Qianlong period white jade carved 'Fu Shou Shuang Quan' (Blessings and Longevity) covered vase, with its exquisite craftsmanship, warm jade quality, and auspicious symbolism, after multiple rounds of intense bidding, finally hammered at RMB 48 million, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate (RMB 30-35 million), with a premium rate of 37%. Another contemporary jade carving master Wu Desheng's Hetian jade seed material 'Guanyin Seated Statue', with its unique artistic style and rare material, was finally sold for RMB 26.5 million, setting a new auction record for Wu Desheng's personal works.
In addition, a Ming Dynasty celadon jade carved 'Scholar under Pine Tree' mountain carving sold for RMB 12.8 million, an increase of about 25% compared to the market price of similar lots five years ago, demonstrating the steady appreciation potential of ancient jade carving art. Overall, in this auction, the sell-through rate for lots estimated over RMB 5 million reached 95%, while the sell-through rate for lots estimated under RMB 1 million also remained above 85%, indicating strong market demand for jade carving art at various price points.
Market Analysis: Scarcity and Cultural Value Drive Growth
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: "The success of this Beijing Council autumn auction once again confirms the resilience and vitality of the jade carving art market. Especially against the backdrop of certain challenges in the macro economy, the counter-trend rise of high-end jade carvings highlights their unique value as a hard currency and cultural carrier. Scarce high-quality jade materials, exquisite craftsmanship, and profound cultural connotations are the core factors driving their continuous price increase."
Li Ming further analyzed: "From the transaction structure, Qing Dynasty imperial jade and contemporary master masterpieces are hot spots in the market. Qing Dynasty jade carries the weight of history and royal aesthetic taste, and its limited existing quantity, mostly unique pieces, gives it extremely high collection value. The works of contemporary jade carving masters, on the other hand, embody the combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern aesthetics, coupled with the endorsement of the master's personal brand, their artistic value and market potential are widely recognized."
Trend Prediction: Market Will Be More Rational, Focusing on Quality and Heritage
Looking ahead, Professor Wang Qiang, a jade market expert, believes: "As the market matures, collectors will pay more attention to the quality, provenance, and orderly heritage of the lots. The phenomenon of blindly chasing popular themes will decrease, replaced by a deeper consideration of artistic value, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage. At the same time, the application of digital and blockchain technologies in art traceability and authentication will further enhance market transparency and trustworthiness."
Professor Wang also emphasized: "The rise of a younger generation of collectors has also brought new changes to the jade carving market. They are not only interested in traditional masterpieces but also show strong interest in innovative jade carving works with modern design concepts. This indicates that the future jade carving market will show a diversified development trend, with tradition and innovation coexisting, jointly promoting industry progress."
The complete success of this Beijing Council autumn auction undoubtedly marked a brilliant end to the 2026 art market and laid a solid foundation for market development in 2027. Jade carving art, as a treasure of traditional Chinese culture, its market value and artistic charm will continue to shine.