【Hong Kong, October 28, 2026】Sotheby's highly anticipated Autumn 2026 Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the 'Important Chinese Art' sale standing out. As the highlight of the sale, a series of rare ancient jade bi discs, with their exquisite craftsmanship, profound historical significance, and scarcity, attracted fierce bidding from collectors worldwide. Ultimately, they achieved sales figures far exceeding expectations, marking a glorious chapter for this season's auction.
The total sales for this auction reached $280 million, significantly surpassing the pre-sale estimate of $220 million, with a remarkable sell-through rate of 89.5%. This demonstrates strong market demand for high-end artworks, especially Chinese ancient art. The ancient jade bi section performed exceptionally well, with 15 lots fetching a total of $45 million, averaging $3 million per piece, representing an average premium of 35% above their pre-sale estimates.
The leading lot was a 'Celadon Jade Bi with Dragon and Phoenix Motifs' from the Western Han Dynasty, measuring 25 cm in diameter. Its jade material was warm and lustrous, and the carving was exquisite, with lifelike dragon and phoenix motifs symbolizing auspiciousness. Starting at $12 million, after multiple rounds of telephone and in-room bidding, it was finally hammered down for $25 million by an anonymous Asian collector, with the final price including buyer's premium reaching $29.5 million. This set a new record for similar jade bi discs in the past five years, representing a premium of 47.5% over its pre-sale estimate range of $15-20 million. Another 'White Jade Bi with Grain Pattern' from the Warring States period, 18 cm in diameter, featuring pure jade and meticulously arranged grain patterns, sold for $8.5 million, also far exceeding its estimate of $4-6 million.
Mr. Nicolas Chow, Chairman of Sotheby's Asia and Worldwide Head of Chinese Works of Art, stated after the auction: "The success of this autumn sale, particularly the strong performance of the ancient jade bi section, fully confirms global collectors' recognition and pursuit of the value of ancient Chinese artworks. High-quality, clearly sourced, and well-preserved ancient jade bi discs, with their scarcity and cultural value, serve as excellent assets against market fluctuations. We see that not only traditional collectors but also new, younger collectors are beginning to focus on and invest in this area."
Professor Li Ming, a market analyst, pointed out: "The data from the Autumn 2026 auction indicates a steady recovery in the global art market. Amid increasing macroeconomic uncertainties, 'hard currency' assets like ancient jade bi, with their profound historical and cultural connotations and potential for value preservation and appreciation, are becoming increasingly prominent as safe havens. In this auction, high-premium sales were concentrated in perfect condition and well-provenanced masterpieces, suggesting that the future market will place greater emphasis on the quality and rarity of artworks. It is expected that over the next 2-3 years, the market prices for ancient Chinese jade, especially archaic jade, will continue to rise steadily, potentially by 10%-15%."
Mr. Wang, a veteran jade collector, also shared his views: "The auction results are exhilarating. The sale price of the 'Celadon Jade Bi with Dragon and Phoenix Motifs' is not only an affirmation of its artistic value but also a significant boost to confidence in the ancient jade market. Now is an excellent time to collect high-quality ancient jade, as both their cultural and investment values will be re-evaluated and recognized."
In conclusion, the success of Sotheby's Autumn 2026 Auction, particularly the outstanding performance of the ancient jade bi section, has not only injected a strong impetus into the art market but also clearly outlined a continuously positive development trend for ancient Chinese art, especially archaic jade. The enthusiastic pursuit of masterpieces by collectors heralds the arrival of a more mature and active collecting era.