Warring States Pale Celadon Jade Bi Disc Achieves High Price: Ancient Jade Market Continues to Heat Up, Premium Pieces Stand Out

Warring States Pale Celadon Jade Bi Disc Achieves High Price: Ancient Jade Market Continues to Heat Up, Premium Pieces Stand Out

December 16, 2025, Beijing – At the autumn art auction held by China Guardian Auctions, a highly anticipated “Warring States Period Pale Celadon Jade Bi Disc with Grain Pattern” (Lot 8265) hammered for an impressive RMB 2,371,145, significantly exceeding its upper estimate (¥1,191,012 - ¥2,382,024). This outcome once again confirms the robust growth momentum of the ancient jade market and collectors' fervent pursuit of rare and exquisite pieces.

This Warring States jade bi disc stood out among numerous lots due to its superb craftsmanship, lustrous jade quality, and profound historical and cultural connotations. Measuring 18.5 cm in diameter and 0.8 cm in thickness, the jade exhibits an elegant pale celadon hue, with localized natural calcification and a rich, mellow patina, revealing millennia of history. The surface is meticulously adorned with full and orderly grain patterns, executed with fluid carving techniques and powerful lines, fully demonstrating the exceptional skill of Warring States jade carvers. The grain pattern, a common auspicious motif during that period, symbolizes abundant harvests, embodying the people's aspirations for a prosperous life. This bi disc is well-preserved and in excellent condition, undoubtedly a quintessential example of high ancient jade from the Warring States period.

This high-priced transaction is not merely the success of a single item but a strong affirmation of the overall trend in the current ancient jade market. In recent years, with China's continuous economic development and rising cultural confidence, an increasing number of collectors have turned their attention to antique artworks with deep historical roots, especially high ancient jade. Due to its scarcity, irreplicability, and unique cultural value, high ancient jade has become a highly sought-after segment in the art market.

Market Analysis:

• Driven by Scarcity and Cultural Value: The limited extant quantity of high ancient jade, with each piece carrying unique historical information and cultural symbols, is a primary driver. The Warring States period, a glorious era in ancient Chinese civilization, produced jade artifacts that served not only as ritual objects and tokens but also as microcosms of the political, economic, cultural, and ideological landscape of the time. This irreplaceable cultural value is the fundamental reason for its continuously rising prices.

• Aesthetic Return and Refined Collecting Tastes: As the knowledge base and aesthetic tastes of collectors evolve, there is a growing appreciation for the rustic, elegant, and understated aesthetic value of high ancient jade. The simple grandeur and exquisite ornamentation of Warring States jade bi discs align with contemporary collectors' pursuit of deeper artistic beauty.

• Asset Hedging and Value Appreciation: In the current context of increasing global economic uncertainty, art as a unique asset class increasingly serves as a hedge against risk and a means of preserving and appreciating value. High ancient jade, with its inherent historical and artistic worth, is considered a premium long-term investment.

• Interaction between Academic Research and the Market: The continuous emergence of archaeological discoveries and in-depth academic research provides a more solid basis for dating, tracing provenance, and valuing high ancient jade, further boosting collectors' confidence.

The ancient jade market is expected to remain active in the coming years. Premium high ancient jade, especially pieces with clear provenance, excellent condition, and exquisite craftsmanship, still have significant room for value appreciation. However, the market also faces the challenge of rampant fakes, which requires collectors to enhance their connoisseurship or seek professional assistance. Concurrently, auction houses must be more rigorous in consignment, authentication, and information disclosure to maintain healthy market development and collector confidence.

This high-priced sale of the Warring States Pale Celadon Jade Bi Disc undoubtedly injects a strong boost into the ancient jade market, signaling the arrival of a more prosperous and mature collecting era.