Hangzhou, May 28, 2026 – The highly anticipated Xiling Yinshe 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday. The ancient jade session, in particular, performed exceptionally well, achieving a total turnover of RMB 185 million, with a remarkable sell-through rate of 89.5%. This significantly exceeded market expectations, indicating a strong recovery in the high-ancient jade market.
The ancient jade session featured 128 lots, covering various jade artifacts from the Neolithic period to the Han Dynasty. Several high-ancient jade pieces were sold at high prices, becoming the highlights of this auction. Among them, a “Hongshan Culture Jade Pig Dragon” was hammered at RMB 38 million, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of RMB 25 million, with a premium rate of 52%. This jade pig dragon, with its archaic form, warm jade quality, and excellent preservation, received high recognition from collectors for its rarity and historical and cultural value. Another “Warring States Period Grain Pattern Jade Bi” also performed well, ultimately selling for RMB 15.5 million, an increase of 55% compared to its RMB 10 million estimate. In addition, several Han Dynasty jade pendants and belt hooks also sold at prices 20% to 40% above their estimates, further confirming the market's pursuit of exquisite ancient jades.
From the data, the total turnover of this ancient jade session increased by 54.2% compared to the RMB 120 million of the 2025 autumn auction, and the sell-through rate also rose from 78% to nearly 90%, showing a significant upward trend. All lots estimated above RMB 5 million were sold, with an average premium rate of over 35%, indicating strong demand and ample capital in the high-end ancient jade market.
Mr. Lu Jingqing, Executive Director and General Manager of Xiling Yinshe Auction Co., Ltd., stated in an interview: “The success of this spring auction's ancient jade session reflects the market's continued high enthusiasm for high-quality, clearly sourced, and culturally rich ancient jade artifacts. Especially prehistoric jades such as Hongshan Culture and Liangzhu Culture, as well as exquisite jades from the Warring States and Han Dynasties, their artistic and historical scarcity make them highly sought after by collectors. We have observed that a growing number of younger collectors are showing increasing interest in high-ancient jades, focusing more on the cultural connotations and artistic aesthetics of the collections, which injects new vitality into the ancient jade market.”
Professor Zhang Ming, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: “The performance of Xiling Yinshe's ancient jade session undoubtedly injected a strong boost into the entire jade auction market. In the context of increasing global economic uncertainty, high-ancient jades, as scarce assets with artistic, historical, and investment value, are increasingly demonstrating their safe-haven properties and appreciation potential. The premium rate and sell-through rate of this auction both reached new highs in recent years, indicating that the ancient jade market has emerged from the adjustment period of the past two years and entered a steady upward channel. It is expected that in the next two years, the prices of exquisite high-ancient jades will continue to grow steadily, especially museum-grade collections with clear dating and traceable provenance, whose value will be further explored.”
However, market participants also warned that while the overall market is improving, ordinary or unidentified jade artifacts still face significant risks of unsold lots. Collectors investing in ancient jades still need to exercise caution, focusing on the authenticity, condition, cultural value, and traceable provenance of the collections. The success of this Xiling Yinshe spring auction undoubtedly sets a positive tone for the ancient jade market in 2026 and the coming years, heralding a new phase full of opportunities and challenges.