BEIJING, May 20, 2026 – China Guardian's 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the highly anticipated 'Gems of Jade – Ancient Jadeware' specialist sale performing exceptionally well. The total transaction value reached RMB 285 million, significantly exceeding pre-sale estimates, with a remarkable sell-through rate of 92.3%. This once again confirms the strong resilience and collecting enthusiasm in the high-end ancient jade market. The success of this specialized sale not only marked a perfect end to China Guardian's spring auction but also sent out positive signals of market recovery.
This ancient jadeware sale featured 120 meticulously selected items, encompassing exquisite jade pieces from the Neolithic period to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Among them, a 'Western Han White Jade Belt Hook with Chi Dragon Design' was hammered at RMB 38 million, with a final transaction price of RMB 43.7 million including buyer's premium, far surpassing its estimated price of RMB 18 million. This made it the highest-priced lot of the sale. It is understood that this item was previously sold for approximately RMB 15 million at an international auction house in 2018, showing a staggering increase of 191.3% this time, highlighting the immense appreciation potential of top-tier ancient jade. Another 'Song Dynasty Celadon and White Jade Seal with Auspicious Beast Knob' also fetched RMB 12.5 million, more than double its estimated price of RMB 6 million, an increase of 108.3%. Overall, 15 lots in this sale exceeded the RMB 10 million mark, and 45 lots surpassed RMB 5 million, with an average price of RMB 2.375 million, representing an 18.5% increase compared to the average price of the ancient jadeware sale in the 2025 spring auction.
Mr. Wang Ming, Vice President of China Guardian Auctions Co., Ltd. and General Manager of the Jade Department, stated in an interview: “The outstanding performance of this ancient jadeware sale is, on one hand, due to our high standards for consignment and academic rigor, ensuring the historical and artistic value of every jade piece offered. On the other hand, it also reflects the continued pursuit by high-net-worth collectors for scarce and value-preserving artworks, especially Chinese ancient jade with profound cultural heritage, amidst the current global economic situation. Particularly, museum-quality pieces with clear provenance, perfect condition, and exquisite craftsmanship are being re-evaluated and continue to rise in market value.”
Ms. Li Hua, a market analyst, pointed out: “Since the second half of 2025, the global art market, especially the Asian market, has shown signs of bottoming out and rebounding. Chinese ancient jade, as an important carrier of Chinese civilization, its unique cultural attributes and scarcity make it an ideal choice for hedging against inflation and achieving wealth inheritance. The success of this Guardian spring auction, especially the strong performance of high-priced lots, indicates that the high-end ancient jade market has entered a steady upward channel. It is expected that in the next 2-3 years, the price of exquisite ancient jade will continue to grow at an annual rate of 10%-15%, while ordinary jade categories may remain stable or fluctuate slightly.”
From the perspective of buyer demographics, this auction was still dominated by seasoned domestic collectors, but the participation of overseas buyers also increased, especially in the online bidding segment, indicating a trend towards market internationalization. In addition, new-generation collectors have shown strong interest in jade pieces with unique aesthetics and cultural connotations, injecting new vitality into the ancient jade market.
Looking ahead, with the revival of traditional Chinese culture and the continuous maturation of collecting concepts, the ancient jade market is expected to continue its steady growth. Experts advise that when investing in ancient jade, collectors should focus on the quality of the jade, craftsmanship, age, condition, and clear provenance, and utilize professional appraisal services to mitigate risks and maximize value. China Guardian will continue to delve into this field, presenting more exquisite masterpieces to collectors worldwide.