Christie's Autumn Sale 2026: Ancient Jade Pendants Market Soars, Masterpieces Achieve Record Prices

【Hong Kong, November 20, 2026】Christie's Hong Kong Autumn Sale 2026 concluded successfully yesterday. The 'Chinese Ancient Jades and Works of Art' session was particularly outstanding, achieving a total of HKD 185 million, significantly exceeding its pre-sale estimate of HKD 120 million. The sell-through rate by lot reached 92%, and by value, an impressive 98%. The highlight of this auction, the ancient jade pendant section, once again demonstrated its resilience and vitality in the art market with its exceptional sales data and market enthusiasm.

This auction presented over 80 exquisite ancient jade pendants, covering a wide range of masterpieces from the Neolithic period to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Among them, a 'Western Han White Jade Chilong Dragon Pendant' with an estimate of HKD 8 million to 12 million became the focal point of the entire sale. After more than 20 rounds of fierce bidding, it was finally hammered at an astonishing price of HKD 28.5 million (including buyer's premium), an increase of 256% from its low estimate, setting a new auction record for Western Han jade pendants in the past five years. Another 'Song Dynasty Celadon Jade Openwork Floral Pendant', estimated at HKD 3 million to 5 million, also sold for HKD 11.2 million, with a premium rate of 273%. Overall, the average transaction price of the ancient jade pendant section increased by approximately 15% compared to the same period last year, showing strong growth momentum.

Mr. Jonathan Stone, Chairman of Christie's Asia and International Director of Chinese Art, stated after the auction: “The excellent performance of ancient jade pendants in this autumn sale fully reflects collectors' deep interest in traditional Chinese culture and art, and their continued pursuit of exquisite jade pieces. Especially those high-ancient jade pendants with clear provenance, exquisite craftsmanship, and perfect condition are increasingly recognized by the market and show a steady upward trend.”

Market Analysis and Trend Prediction:

• Scarcity of Masterpieces Drives Price Increases: The high-priced ancient jade pendants sold in this auction are all rare treasures with exquisite craftsmanship, long history, and perfect preservation. As the existing quantity dwindles, the scarcity of such exquisite jade pendants will continue to drive up their market prices.

• Younger and International Collector Base: Observing the bidding situation, in addition to seasoned collectors, an increasing number of younger generation collectors and international buyers are paying attention to and actively participating in the bidding for ancient jade pendants. They have a deep understanding and appreciation for the historical and cultural value and aesthetic beauty embedded in jade pendants, injecting new vitality into the market.

• Balancing Cultural and Investment Value: With the increasing global recognition of traditional Chinese culture, ancient jade pendants are not only regarded as collectibles with extremely high artistic value, but their role as a stable investment target is also gaining attention. In the current context of increased global economic uncertainty, the value preservation and appreciation attributes of ancient jade pendants are particularly prominent.

• Interaction between Academic Research and Market: In recent years, academic research on ancient jades has continuously emerged, which helps to enhance public understanding of the cultural connotations of jade pendants, thereby promoting market demand for high-quality jade pendants. The cooperation between auction houses and academic institutions will further promote the healthy development of the ancient jade pendant market.

Professor Li Ming, a renowned jade appraisal expert and professor at the School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University, pointed out: “The transaction data of ancient jade pendants at Christie's autumn sale is inspiring, especially the performance of high-ancient jade, which reflects the market's high enthusiasm for jade pendants with unique shapes, exquisite patterns, and rich cultural connotations. In the future, we expect jade pendants from the Warring States and Han dynasties and earlier, with perfect condition and clear provenance, to continue to be the focus of market pursuit, and their prices are expected to continue to rise. At the same time, Ming and Qing dynasty jade pendants with unique themes and exquisite carving will also maintain steady growth.”

In summary, the success of Christie's Autumn Sale 2026 ancient jade pendant session not only injected confidence into the market but also clearly outlined the development direction of the ancient jade pendant market in the coming years: specialization, high value, and internationalization will be the main themes.