【Beijing, November 28, 2026】China Guardian's 2026 Autumn Auction concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total transaction value of RMB 2.85 billion and an impressive sell-through rate of 82.5%. Among them, the highly anticipated 'Contemporary Jade Carvings' special session performed exceptionally well, with a total transaction value exceeding RMB 350 million and a sell-through rate as high as 91.2%, an 18% increase compared to the same period last year. This became a major highlight of the autumn auction, injecting a strong dose of confidence into the currently somewhat sluggish art market.
The 'Contemporary Jade Carvings' session featured 150 meticulously selected lots, encompassing various materials such as Hetian jade, jadeite, and Nanhong agate. The works showcased diverse styles, including innovative interpretations of traditional themes and a perfect blend of modern aesthetics and craftsmanship. Notably, a Hetian jade ornament titled 'Mountain and Water Serenity' by renowned jade carving master Zhang Hua, with its exquisite carving, warm jade quality, and profound artistic conception, ultimately sold for a high price of RMB 38 million, far exceeding its pre-auction estimate (RMB 25 million - 30 million), becoming the highest-priced lot in this session. Another jadeite pendant, 'Butterflies Chasing Flowers,' designed by young jade carving artist Li Ming, fetched RMB 12 million, a 50% increase from its estimate (RMB 8 million - 10 million), demonstrating the market's recognition of innovative design and emerging talent.
From the data, the average price per lot in this contemporary jade carving session reached RMB 2.33 million, a significant increase from RMB 1.98 million in last year's autumn auction. Particularly, high-quality, masterworks, and pieces with unique artistic styles showed outstanding premium rates, with many works selling for more than 30% above their upper estimate. This indicates that even during a period of overall market adjustment, collectors' enthusiasm for exquisite and rare resources remains undiminished, and even more cautious and concentrated.
Ms. Wang Li, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: "The excellent performance of contemporary jade carvings at this China Guardian autumn auction is not accidental. After several years of market consolidation, the jade market is gradually returning to rationality. Collectors are paying more attention to the artistic value, craftsmanship, and quality of the jade material, rather than blindly chasing high prices. At the same time, auction houses are also more refined in their consignment and curation of lots, striving to present exquisite pieces with market potential and collection value. This robust supply and demand situation indicates that the contemporary jade carving market is undergoing a healthy adjustment and development phase."
Mr. Li Qiang, head of China Guardian's Jade Department, stated: "We are very satisfied with the results of this contemporary jade carving session. This not only reflects the market's recognition of the artistic value of contemporary jade carvings but also demonstrates our team's professional insight in selecting lots. In the future, we will continue to cultivate this field, discover more excellent jade carving artists and works, and provide collectors with higher-quality collection options."
Looking ahead, market analysts generally believe that with the gradual improvement of the economic environment and the enhancement of cultural confidence, contemporary jade carving, as an important carrier of excellent traditional Chinese culture, will further unleash its collection value and investment potential. It is expected that within the next 2-3 years, high-quality, masterworks of contemporary jade carving will continue to maintain steady growth, while works by young artists with innovative spirit and unique styles will also become new growth points in the market. However, investors still need to remain rational, focusing on the authenticity, quality, and artistic merit of the works, and avoiding blind speculation.