BEIJING, May 20, 2026 – The highly anticipated Poly 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the “Gilt Bronze and Jade Essence – Important High-Ancient Jade and Jadeware Session” standing out remarkably. The session achieved a total turnover of RMB 285 million, with an impressive sell-through rate of 89.5%, once again affirming the strong resilience of the high-end ancient jade market and the sustained enthusiasm of collectors.
The session presented a total of 125 carefully selected lots, covering various jade artifacts from the Neolithic period to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Among them, several high-ancient jade masterpieces performed exceptionally well, becoming the focal points of the auction. The leading lot, a “Western Zhou Jade Huang,” distinguished by its regular shape, natural patination, and exquisite carving, was finally hammered at RMB 38 million, significantly exceeding its pre-sale estimate (RMB 22-28 million) with a premium rate of 72.7%. It was acquired by an Asian private collector. Another “Warring States White Jade Dragon-shaped Pendant” also fetched RMB 25.5 million, an increase of 70% from its estimate (RMB 15-20 million), demonstrating the market's high recognition for Warring States jade artifacts in excellent condition and with clear provenance.
From the data perspective, the average transaction price for the ancient jadeware session reached RMB 2.28 million, a 15.7% increase compared to the same period last year. Notably, there were 5 lots that sold for over RMB 10 million and 12 lots that exceeded RMB 5 million. It is worth mentioning that jade artifacts from the Neolithic Hongshan and Liangzhu cultures, as well as exquisite jade from the Warring States and Han dynasties, remained hot commodities, with their selling prices generally surpassing estimates.
Mr. Zhang Ming, Head of the Antiques and Curios Department at Poly Auction, stated in an interview: “The success of this spring auction’s ancient jadeware session once again proves that the profound cultural heritage and unique artistic value of Chinese ancient jadeware hold widespread appeal globally. Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, top-tier artworks, especially ancient jade artifacts with scarcity, historical value, and exceptional craftsmanship, maintain their value preservation and appreciation attributes, even showing an upward trend against the current.”
Professor Li Hua, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The data from this Poly spring auction conveys several important market signals. Firstly, the value of high-ancient jade is being re-evaluated and elevated, particularly for pieces with clear archaeological backgrounds or museum-grade quality, whose price ceilings are continuously being broken. Secondly, collectors’ demands for authenticity, provenance, and condition of jade artifacts are increasingly stringent, prompting auction houses to invest more resources in lot sourcing and authentication. Lastly, international collectors’ interest in Chinese ancient jade is growing, bringing new vitality and capital to the market.”
Looking ahead, Professor Li predicts that as China's cultural confidence grows and global understanding of Oriental art deepens, the high-ancient jade market will continue to maintain steady growth. He advises collectors to focus on the following categories of jade artifacts: first, pieces with clear historical dating and cultural representation; second, masterpieces of superior material, exquisite carving, and perfect preservation; and third, unique pieces with special cultural connotations or rare forms. At the same time, he also reminds investors that market volatility still exists, and rational investment and professional authentication are indispensable prerequisites for entering the ancient jade market.
The outstanding performance of this Poly spring auction’s ancient jadeware session undoubtedly injected a strong boost into the 2026 art auction market, showcasing the vibrant vitality and immense potential of the Chinese ancient jade market to global collectors.