Hangzhou, November 25, 2026 – The highly anticipated Xiling Yinshe 2026 Autumn Auction concluded successfully yesterday. The total transaction value of this autumn auction reached RMB 1.28 billion, with a high sell-through rate of 82.5%. Among them, the “Contemporary Jade Carvings and Famous Seal Engravings” special session was particularly outstanding, becoming the biggest highlight of this auction. It not only boosted market confidence but also pointed out a new direction for the future jade art market.
Contemporary Jade Carvings Session: Masterpieces Emerge, Achieving Excellent Results
This autumn auction featured 12 special sessions, with the “Contemporary Jade Carvings and Famous Seal Engravings” session presenting a total of 150 lots. Ultimately, 132 pieces were sold, achieving a high sell-through rate of 88% and a total transaction value of RMB 350 million, accounting for 27.3% of the total transaction value. This figure represents a significant increase of 66.7% compared to the RMB 210 million transaction value of the same session in the 2025 autumn auction, fully demonstrating the strong recovery momentum of the contemporary jade carving market.
Several contemporary jade carving masterpieces performed exceptionally well in this auction. Among them, the Hetian jade pebble 'Auspicious Beasts Presenting Good Fortune' ornament, created by Chinese jade carving master Wang Jingao, fetched RMB 28 million after multiple rounds of fierce bidding, far exceeding its estimated price of RMB 18 million, with a premium rate as high as 55.6%. Another hand-held piece, the jasper 'Mountain and Water Clear Sound' carved by young jade carving artist Li Mingjie, also sold for RMB 6.5 million, an increase of over 116% compared to its estimated price of RMB 3 million, setting a new auction record for his personal works. In addition, many mid-priced (RMB 1 million - 5 million) contemporary jade carving works also performed well, with a sell-through rate close to 90%, showing widespread market recognition for the backbone forces.
Market Analysis: Aesthetic Return and Value Reassessment
Mr. Wang Li, General Manager of Xiling Yinshe Auction Co., Ltd., stated in an interview: “The success of the contemporary jade carving session in this autumn auction is not accidental. It reflects the market’s return to the value perception of jade art and the affirmation of the originality and exquisite craftsmanship of contemporary jade carving artists. After several years of market adjustment, collectors are more focused on the artistry, scarcity, and cultural connotation of the works, rather than blindly pursuing materials. Especially with the increasing scarcity of Hetian jade pebble resources, the artistic and collection value of high-quality contemporary jade carving works is becoming increasingly prominent.”
Ms. Zhang Hua, a senior jade market analyst, also pointed out: “The recovery of the contemporary jade carving market is, on the one hand, due to the industry’s adherence to and promotion of the concept of fine products, and on the other hand, related to the rise of a new generation of collectors. They have a broader international perspective and more independent aesthetic judgment, and are more willing to pay for contemporary jade carving works with unique styles and innovative spirits. In addition, the popularity of the internet and social media has also provided a broader display platform for the works of contemporary jade carving artists, accelerating the increase in market attention.”
Future Trends: Refinement, Youthfulness, Diversification
Looking ahead, the industry generally believes that the contemporary jade carving market will show development trends of “refinement, youthfulness, and diversification”. Firstly, the market will focus more on high-quality, high-artistic-standard fine products, while crude, uncreative works will gradually be eliminated. Secondly, with the entry of a younger generation of collectors, jade carving works with modern aesthetic tastes and innovative expressive forms will be more popular. Finally, in addition to traditional Hetian jade, contemporary jade carving works made from other materials such as jadeite, nan hong agate, and lapis lazuli will gradually gain more attention, and the market will present a more diversified development pattern.
The success of Xiling Yinshe’s autumn auction has undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the entire art market, especially the outstanding performance of the contemporary jade carving sector, indicating that it is ushering in a golden period full of opportunities. We have reason to believe that with the joint efforts of artists, collectors, and auction houses, contemporary jade carving art will shine even brighter.