2025 was a strong year for Qianlong imperial porcelain. Sotheby's, Christie's, and China Guardian Hong Kong recorded a combined 14 Qianlong imperial porcelain lots selling for more than one million dollars, with total turnover up approximately 23% from 2024.

Top Ten Results of the Year

The highest Qianlong porcelain result in 2025 was a famille rose reticulated revolving vase, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong autumn sale for HK$88 million (approximately US$11.3 million), setting a new record for the form. Among the top ten results, famille rose and falangcai enamels accounted for seven places, with blue-and-white and monochrome glazes sharing the remaining three.

Performance by category:

  • Famille rose: average price up 31% from 2024
  • Falangcai enamel: rarity drove the top end of the price table
  • Blue-and-white: steady rise, with the mid-market ($50K-$200K) showing the strongest activity
  • Doucai: few fine examples, with wide estimate ranges

Changing Buyer Profile

In 2025, buyers from mainland China accounted for 62% of total Qianlong porcelain turnover, a marked increase from 41% five years earlier. At the same time, participation from Southeast Asian private collectors continued to rise, especially below the $200K price level.

Which Categories Remain Undervalued?

Qianlong Monochrome Glazes

Compared with the spotlight on famille rose, Qianlong monochrome glazes, especially Song-style glazes such as Ru-type, guan-type, and Ge-type glazes, remain relatively conservative in market pricing. A Qianlong Ru-type glazed brush washer with a pure glaze tone currently usually sells in the $30,000-$120,000 range, far below the hundredfold premium commanded by comparable original Song wares.

Qianlong Blue-and-White

For comparable size and condition, Qianlong blue-and-white is priced at roughly 40-60% of Yongzheng blue-and-white. Given the high technical standard of the Qianlong reign and the large number of surviving examples, this price gap offers a relatively rational entry point.

Outlook for 2026

As mainland collectors continue to demand "orthodoxy" and clearly documented provenance, Qianlong pieces with old Western collecting histories, such as those from British aristocratic collections, are likely to command even stronger premiums. We expect top-tier falangcai enamel and famille rose to remain strong in the 2026 spring sales, while the catch-up potential in monochrome glazes and blue-and-white deserves close attention.