Hangzhou, May 28, 2026 – The highly anticipated Xiling Yinshe 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday. This spring auction, with its diversified lot structure and robust transaction performance, once again demonstrated Xiling Yinshe's profound strength in the art auction field. Among them, the contemporary jade carving section performed particularly well, with several exquisite pieces fetching prices far exceeding expectations, becoming a major highlight of this auction and injecting strong confidence into the currently somewhat volatile art market.
This spring auction achieved a total turnover of RMB 385 million, with an overall sell-through rate of 78.5%. The contemporary jade carving special session, in particular, stood out with a total turnover of RMB 86.5 million and a high sell-through rate of 92%, an increase of 15 percentage points compared to the same period last year, demonstrating strong market demand and recognition for high-quality contemporary jade carving works.
Regarding key lots, the 'Square Seal with Auspicious Beast Knob in Bi Jade' created by Chinese jade carving master Zhang Yongzhong was hammered at RMB 18.5 million, far exceeding its pre-auction estimate of RMB 10 million, with a premium rate as high as 85%. This work, with its exquisite craftsmanship, unique creativity, and superior jade material, attracted fierce bidding from buyers on site. Another piece, the 'Hetian Jade Seed Material 'Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove' Ornament' carved by young jade carving artist Li Mingxuan, sold for RMB 12.8 million, a 60% increase from its estimated price of RMB 8 million, setting a new auction record for Li Mingxuan's personal works. In addition, many small and medium-sized contemporary jade carving works also performed well, such as a 'White Jade 'Fu Lu Shou' Pendant', estimated at RMB 150,000, which ultimately sold for RMB 320,000, an increase of over 100%.
Mr. Wang Haitao, General Manager of Xiling Yinshe Auction Co., Ltd., stated in an interview: "The excellent performance of the contemporary jade carving section in this spring auction fully demonstrates that collectors' aesthetic appreciation and investment value judgment for jade carving art are gradually improving. Especially works that combine master craftsmanship with innovative spirit have enormous market potential. We see that not only traditional collectors, but also an increasing number of young collectors are beginning to pay attention to and invest in contemporary jade carving."
Market analysts point out that the continuous strengthening of the contemporary jade carving market is mainly due to several factors: Firstly, the increasing scarcity of high-quality jade resources makes rare jade material works, represented by Hetian jade seed material, more valuable for preservation and appreciation. Secondly, contemporary jade carving artists, while inheriting traditional craftsmanship, continuously integrate modern aesthetics and innovative concepts, making their works more artistic and contemporary. Thirdly, with the popularization of art investment concepts, collectors have a deeper understanding of the cultural connotations and craftsmanship value of jade carving artworks. Finally, the active promotion by auction houses and art institutions has also injected vitality into the contemporary jade carving market.
Ms. Chen Li, a senior jade market analyst, commented: "The transaction data for contemporary jade carving at this Xiling Yinshe spring auction is exciting. Especially those works created by renowned artists, with superior jade quality, unique themes, and exquisite craftsmanship, their prices are no longer simply a superposition of material costs, but a full embodiment of artistic value. It is expected that in the next few years, the contemporary jade carving market will continue to maintain a steady growth trend, especially the works of young and middle-aged artists with clear artistic styles and market recognition, which are expected to become new investment hotspots. However, investors still need to be cautious when selecting lots, focusing on the originality of the work, the quality of the jade material, and the artist's market influence, to avoid blindly following trends."
Looking ahead, with the trend of traditional Chinese cultural revival and consumption upgrading, contemporary jade carving, as a unique category combining cultural, artistic, and investment attributes, still has broad market prospects. Xiling Yinshe will continue to deeply cultivate this field, presenting more exquisite works to collectors and contributing to the prosperous development of contemporary jade carving art.