【Hong Kong, May 10, 2026】Sotheby's Spring 2026 Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the highly anticipated 'Jade Elegance: A Special Sale of Qing Dynasty Jades' performing exceptionally well. The total transaction value reached HKD 185 million, significantly exceeding the pre-sale estimate of HKD 120 million, and achieving a remarkable sell-through rate of 92%. This once again confirms the strong resilience and collecting enthusiasm in the high-end Qing Dynasty jade market. This auction not only set new records for several similar lots but also provided important insights into the future trends of the jade market.
The special sale featured a total of 120 exquisite Qing Dynasty jade pieces, including imperial works, literati objects, and regional specialties. Among them, the most prominent was a 'Qianlong Period White Jade 'Archaistic Dragon' 'Chilong' Handled Cup'. This cup boasts warm and delicate jade quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and a perfect blend of archaic patterns with the imperial style of the Qianlong era. The lot started at HKD 35 million and, after multiple rounds of intense bidding, was finally hammered at HKD 82 million, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate range of HKD 25 million to HKD 35 million, with a premium rate of 134%, making it the top-selling lot of the sale. Another 'Mid-Qing Dynasty Spinach Green Jade Carved Landscape and Figures Large Table Screen' also performed strongly, selling for HKD 28 million, an increase of 87% compared to its HKD 15 million estimate. Overall, the average premium rate for this Qing Dynasty jade special sale reached 45%, demonstrating the strong market demand for high-quality, clearly sourced Qing Dynasty jades.
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: "The excellent performance of Qing Dynasty jades at this Sotheby's spring auction is not accidental. In recent years, with increasing global economic uncertainty, the role of art as a safe-haven asset has become increasingly prominent. Qing Dynasty jades, especially imperial masterpieces from the Qianlong period, have always been regarded as hard currency due to their rarity, artistic merit, and historical value. The high-premium lots in this auction all, without exception, possessed superior jade quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and clear provenance, indicating that collectors' pursuit of jade quality and cultural connotations has reached a new level."
Mr. Nicolas Chow, Chairman of Sotheby's Asia and Worldwide Head of Chinese Works of Art, stated: "We are very pleased with the results of this Qing Dynasty jade special sale. This not only reflects the market's continued enthusiasm for top-tier jades but also demonstrates Sotheby's professional capabilities in lot selection and market promotion. We have observed a growing interest among new collectors in Qing Dynasty jades, who tend to invest in masterpieces with clear historical backgrounds and artistic value. In the future, we expect the Qing Dynasty jade market to continue its steady growth, especially for lots with unique stories and cultural heritage, which will be even more sought after."
From a market trend perspective, this auction further solidified the core position of Qing Dynasty jades in the Asian art market. High-end exquisite jades, particularly imperial works and literati objects, will continue to be the focus of market pursuit. At the same time, collectors' demands for jade provenance, condition, and craftsmanship are also increasing, prompting auction houses to be more rigorous in lot consignment. It is expected that in the next few years, the Qing Dynasty jade market will show a polarized trend: high-quality, rare, and storied masterpieces will continue to rise, while ordinary categories may face greater market competition pressure. For collectors, in-depth research and careful selection will be key to investing in Qing Dynasty jades.