Chinese jade and especially exceptional imperial pieces have repeatedly shattered auction records to achieve record setting prices globally. Chinese jade items are prized for their exquisite craftsmanship, historical significance, and the imperial provenance adds additional appeal to collectors, driving prices into the millions.
We run through the five highest-priced Chinese jades ever sold at public auction, from necklaces to imperial seals, and what makes each piece extraordinary. All are verified auction results (no private sales), and each exemplifies the pinnacle of China’s jade heritage in both artistic quality and rarity.
If you have Chinese jade that you would like valued then please get in touch for a no obligation valuation using the form below, or on our Asian art valuations page.
5. Liangzhu Culture “Jade Cong King”
In 2015 an enormous Neolithic jade cong (tubular ritual vessel) from the Liangzhu culture, was brought to auction in mainland China. This historical item has been dubbed the “King of Cong” for its size and importance and reportedly sold for just over ¥109 million (approximately £12 million).
Jade cong are characterized by a tall square tube with a circular hollow and intricate mask-like motifs on the corners. This historic example was carved from a single block of greenish-white nephrite and stands out for its monumental dimensions and exceptionally fine incised décor of mysterious man-beast faces.
Likely unearthed from a Liangzhu elite tomb, it dates back 4,500–5,000 years, making it the oldest object on this list. Such cong are thought to embody early Chinese cosmology, with the square exterior symbolising earth and the round bore representing heaven, and were sacred symbols of power. This piece’s cultural significance is immense: it represents the pinnacle of Neolithic jade craftsmanship, achieved with primitive tools long before metal was used. It has been dubbed a national treasure is housed in a Chinese museum and is barred from export.
Asian Art Valuations
For Asian art valuations we can personally recommend the specialists below. Both are leading UK experts in Chinese, Japanese and South East Asian works of art.
Alexander Clement MRICS ASFAV
Asian Art, Watches and General Valuations
Halls Fine Art
Tel: +44 (0)1743 450700
Email: [email protected]
About Alexander
Alexander studied History of Art and Design at Staffordshire University and began his career as curator of the Royal Doulton Museum. He later ran the Ceramics, Glass and Asian Art departments at Phillips (later Bonhams), before becoming Director of the Chester saleroom. Since joining Halls Fine Art in 2015, he has built a highly successful Asian art department, achieving house record prices and handling important collections across the UK.
Bill Forrest
Director | Head of Department, Chinese, Japanese & South East Asian Art
Roseberys
Tel: +44 (0)20 8761 2522
Email: [email protected]
About Bill
Bill graduated in Ancient History from the University of Leeds and is a member of the Oriental Ceramic Society. He joined Roseberys in 2015 and was appointed Head of Department for Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in 2016. He has achieved notable results for important Chinese works, including six-figure hammer prices, and regularly undertakes UK and international valuations of Asian art.
4. Imperial White Jade “Xintian Zhuren” Seal of Qianlong
A massive white nephrite jade seal of the Qianlong Emperor, carved in high relief with entwined dragons and the characters Xintian Zhuren (“Master of Heaven’s Faith”). This seal was sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in October 2010 for HK$128 million (aproximately £10 million), setting a record at the time for any Chinese imperial seal.
Sobriquet seals were deeply personal to Qianlong and the auctioned example is monumental: carved from fine white Hetian jade with a dragon-form knop. The seal’s craftsmanship, from the intertwined dragons (symbols of imperial authority) to the polished stone quality, exemplifies the zenith of Qing dynasty jade carving. The piece’s extraordinary price reflected not only the rarity of large flawless nephrite, but also the profound historical resonance: it embodied the emperor’s divine legitimacy and was literally handled by Qianlong himself, making it a tangible link to the pinnacle of China’s imperial era.
3. Imperial White Jade “Ji’entang” Seal of Qianlong
The Qianlong Emperor’s white jade Ji’entang seal, with intertwined dragon finial and soot scars from the 1860 sacking of the Summer Palace sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in April 2021 for HK$145,691,000 (approximately £13 million).
This rectangular white jade seal was used by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. It was carved in 1766 with a pair of exquisitely intertwined dragons as the handle, its sides bear an imperial inscription titled “Ji’entang” (Hall of Grace Remembrance). The jade itself was sourced from Hetian (Khotan) nephrite and is of luminous “mutton-fat” quality—pure white with a fine polish. Remarkably, the seal survived the looting of Beijing’s Old Summer Palace in 1860, retaining scorch marks from the fires that ravaged Qianlong’s treasures. Its provenance and condition made it the highest price ever achieved for any imperial jade seal, and for any white jade object at auction.
2. Imperial Green Jadeite Guanyin Carving
A finely carved jadeite figure of Guanyin (Bodhisattva of Mercy) from the late Qing period, sold at Guangdong Poly Auctions in August 2011 for RMB 145 million (around £14 million).
This sculpture is rendered from a single huge jadeite boulder of vibrant emerald-green colour and set a benchmark for jade carvings sold. Standing serenely with delicate features, the Guanyin exemplifies the pinnacle of Qing jadeite artistry.
Carved from top-grade “Type A” jadeite, the figure’s glassy translucency and rich colour are exceptionally rare for an object of its size. Its significance lies in the synthesis of spiritual iconography and imperial taste – Guanyin is a revered deity, and jadeite was prized by the Qing court. The record-breaking sale of this piece in 2011 sparked what observers called a “sky-high jadeite” craze in the Chinese art marketzxart.cn, underscoring collectors’ growing appetite for museum-quality jade carvings.
The Hutton-Mdivani Jadeite Necklace
The legendary Hutton-Mdivani necklace, composed of 27 enormous and perfect jadeite beads with an Art Deco ruby and diamond clasp by Cartier sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong for HK$214 million (≈£16 million).
This Qing Dynasty jadeite bead necklace was once owned by heiress Barbara Hutton. The beads are highly translucent imperial green jadeite of unmatched quality, reputedly originally from the Chinese imperial court. Cartier restrung the necklace in 1933 with a calibre-cut ruby and diamond clasp, marrying Western Art Deco design with revered Eastern gemstones. It was finally purchased by Cartier itself.
Experts lauded the piece as “the most important jadeite jewellery known to the world,” noting its illustrious ownership and extraordinary craftsmanship. An SSEF laboratory report that accompanied the lot praised the necklace’s “perfectly matching colour, outstanding translucency and excellent lustre… a true and rare treasure of nature.”
