Beijing, May 28, 2026 – The highly anticipated Poly Spring 2026 Art Auction concluded successfully today. This auction, with its core highlight being the “Jade Harmony Chapter – Master Chinese Jade Carvings Special Sale,” successfully boosted market confidence and demonstrated the resilience and vitality of the high-end art market through a series of high-quality jade artworks.
Impressive Transaction Data, Masterpieces Stand Out
According to official data from Poly Auction, the total transaction value of this spring auction reached RMB 2.85 billion, a steady increase of 8.8% compared to RMB 2.62 billion in the Spring 2025 auction. Among them, the “Jade Harmony Chapter” special sale performed particularly well, with a total transaction value of RMB 650 million, significantly exceeding the pre-sale estimate of RMB 480 million, and achieving a transaction rate of 92.5%, setting a new high for jade carving special sales in recent years.
A total of 120 master jade carving pieces were offered in this special sale, with 3 items breaking the RMB 100 million mark. The leading lot, the 'Prosperous Lotus Rhyme White Jade Ornament' created by renowned jade carving master Wu Desheng, was hammered at RMB 185 million, with a final transaction price including commission reaching RMB 212.75 million, far exceeding its estimate of RMB 120 million, becoming the 'top lot' of this auction. The piece, with its exquisite craftsmanship, superior Hetian white jade material, and profound cultural implications, attracted fierce bidding from multiple collectors. Another piece, the 'Auspicious Beasts Presenting Good Fortune Bi Jade Brush Pot' by Master Yang Shilin, sold for RMB 108 million, also performing well. In addition, works by a number of young and middle-aged jade carving artists also performed excellently, such as Li Dong's 'Landscape Imagery Green Jade Plaque,' which sold for RMB 8.5 million, an increase of 25% over its estimate, indicating market recognition for emerging talents.
Market Analysis: Strong Demand for High-End Jade Carvings, Investment Value Highlighted
The results of this auction clearly indicate that despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties, top-tier artworks, especially master jade carvings with scarcity and cultural value, remain the focus of collectors. Mr. Wang, General Manager of Poly Auction's Chinese Antiques and Curios Department, stated: “The success of this spring auction, particularly the booming jade carving special sale, once again confirms the strong demand for high-quality, high artistic value jade carving works. In the current context of diversified asset allocation, jade carving works with clear provenance and artistic excellence are increasingly highlighting their investment and collection value.”
From the data, the average unit price of this auction increased, reaching RMB 2.375 million, a 15% increase compared to the same period last year. This reflects that collectors are paying more attention to quality and scarcity when selecting lots, rather than blindly pursuing quantity. At the same time, the activity of online bidding continued to rise, with nearly 30% of the transaction value coming from online buyers, demonstrating the effectiveness of the auction industry's digital transformation.
Expert Commentary: Cultural Confidence and Aesthetic Upgrades Drive Growth
Professor Zhang, a renowned art critic and Vice President of the China Jade Culture Research Association, pointed out: “The jade carving special sale at this Poly spring auction is not only a commercial success but also a manifestation of China's traditional cultural confidence and contemporary aesthetic upgrades. The works of masters like Wu Desheng and Yang Shilin perfectly integrate traditional jade carving techniques with modern aesthetic concepts, giving new life to jade. Their market performance also indicates that in the next few years, traditional Chinese crafts represented by jade carvings will usher in a new wave of collection enthusiasm. While focusing on masterworks, collectors should also pay attention to the potential of young and middle-aged artists, whose works often have greater growth potential.”
Professor Zhang further analyzed that the current market is undergoing a de-bubbling process, with collectors becoming more rational and tending to choose genuine masterpieces with artistic and cultural value. The scarcity, irreplicability, and profound cultural heritage of master jade carvings enable them to demonstrate stronger risk resistance amidst market fluctuations.
Looking ahead, with the steady development of China's economy and the upgrading of cultural consumption, the high-end jade carving market is expected to maintain a continuous growth trend. Poly Auction stated that it will continue to cultivate the jade carving art market, bring more exquisite pieces to collectors, and strive to promote the inheritance and development of Chinese jade culture.