【Hong Kong, May 18, 2026】Sotheby's Asia Spring 2026 auction concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total sale of HKD 1.25 billion, exceeding its pre-sale estimate by 15%. The highly anticipated 'Important Chinese Art' sale was particularly outstanding, with a remarkable 92% sell-through rate. Several high-ancient jade lots set new market records, signaling a new wave of investment enthusiasm in the high-ancient jade market.
The undisputed highlight of this auction was a 'Western Han Dynasty White Jade Bi with Grain Pattern' from a private collection, estimated at HKD 8 million to 12 million. After more than 20 rounds of intense bidding, it finally hammered for an astonishing HKD 28.5 million (approximately USD 3.65 million), more than double its highest estimate, setting a new auction record for Western Han Dynasty jade bi in the past decade. This jade bi, with a diameter of 25 cm, features warm jade quality, exquisite craftsmanship, regular grain patterns, and natural patina, fully demonstrating the pinnacle of Han Dynasty jade artistry. Another 'Warring States Period Green Jade Huang with Dragon Motif' also sold for HKD 12.8 million, a staggering 113% increase from its HKD 6 million estimate. In addition, a set of 'Liangzhu Culture Jade Cong' fetched HKD 8.5 million, up 70% from its estimate, indicating the growing appeal of early jade artifacts among collectors.
Mr. Zhang Ming, Head of Chinese Works of Art, Sotheby's Asia, stated: "The excellent performance of high-ancient jade artifacts in this spring sale once again confirms the unique position of top-tier ancient jade in the hearts of global collectors. Especially for well-preserved, well-provenanced masterpieces, their value is being re-evaluated and continues to rise in the market. We have observed a significant increase in interest in high-ancient jade from new collectors in Greater China and North America, who not only value artistic merit but also increasingly appreciate its historical and cultural connotations."
Dr. Li Huaqiang, a market analyst, pointed out that in the current complex global economic environment, high-ancient jade, as a rare art piece with profound cultural heritage, increasingly highlights its safe-haven attributes and investment value. He believes: "In the past few years, the high-ancient jade market has been on a steady upward trend, but its growth potential is still significant compared to categories like paintings and porcelain. The data from this Sotheby's spring sale indicates that market awareness and acceptance of high-ancient jade are rapidly increasing, especially for lots with clear dating, exquisite craftsmanship, and good condition, which have greater price elasticity. It is expected that the high-ancient jade market will maintain an annual compound growth rate of 10%-15% in the next 3-5 years, with the appreciation of exquisite high-ancient jade potentially exceeding 20%."
An anonymous senior collector commented in an interview: "Collecting high-ancient jade has a relatively high barrier to entry, requiring deep professional knowledge and connoisseurship. But once you enter this field, you will find its charm endless. The market's demand for authentic, rare, and exquisite high-ancient jade is eternal. The sale price of this Western Han jade bi, while surprising, is also reasonable. It represents the highest aesthetic and craftsmanship of its era and is an irreplicable artistic treasure."
The success of this Sotheby's spring sale not only injected a strong boost into the global art market but also clearly outlined the future development blueprint for the high-ancient jade market. With the release of more research findings and the deepening public understanding of Chinese civilization, the value of high-ancient jade will gain wider recognition, and its market prospects are bright.