Hangzhou, May 18, 2026 – The highly anticipated Xiling Yinshe 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday. The total transaction value of this spring auction reached RMB 780 million, with a high sell-through rate of 82.5%, indicating that the art market, after a period of adjustment, is gradually recovering its vitality. Among them, the contemporary jade carving section performed particularly well, becoming the biggest highlight of this auction.
This spring auction featured over 200 exquisite contemporary jade carvings, covering various materials such as Hetian jade, jadeite, and Nanhong agate. The themes were diverse, and the craftsmanship was superb. Ultimately, the contemporary jade carving section achieved a total transaction value of RMB 120 million, with a high sell-through rate of 91.3%, far exceeding other categories. Many items were sold at high premiums, setting new auction records for contemporary jade carving in recent years.
The most striking piece was a Hetian jade pebble sculpture of 'Guanyin' created by Chinese jade carving master Wu Desheng. Estimated at RMB 8 million to 12 million, it was finally hammered at RMB 23.5 million after multiple rounds of fierce bidding, with a premium rate of 95.8%, becoming the 'Jade King' of this spring auction. Another white jade 'Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove' pendant set, created by young jade carving artist Zhang Ming, sold for RMB 6.8 million, a staggering increase of 126.7% compared to its estimate of RMB 3 million, demonstrating the market's recognition of emerging jade carving talents.
Mr. Lu Ming, Executive Director and General Manager of Xiling Yinshe Auction Co., Ltd., stated in an interview: "The excellent performance of the contemporary jade carving section fully demonstrates the strong market demand for high-quality, artistically valuable contemporary jade carving works. Collectors not only focus on the rarity of the material but also pay more attention to the artistry, cultural connotation, and personal style of the creator. We have observed that works by young artists with innovative spirit and profound skills are also beginning to gain market favor."
From the data, the average premium rate for the contemporary jade carving section reached 45%, an increase of 15 percentage points compared to the same period last year. Among them, the premium rate for master-level works generally exceeded 80%, while works by promising young and middle-aged artists also achieved a premium rate in the range of 30%-60%. This indicates that the market's valuation of contemporary jade carving is becoming more rational, and differentiated recognition is given to works by artists of different levels.
Ms. Li Hua, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: "The success of Xiling Yinshe's contemporary jade carving auction this spring is the result of multiple factors. Firstly, in recent years, with the revival of traditional culture and consumption upgrading, jade culture has once again received widespread attention. Secondly, contemporary jade carving artists, while inheriting traditions, continue to innovate, making their works more diverse in style and conforming to modern aesthetics. Furthermore, the auction house has also put in a lot of effort in soliciting consignments and market promotion, ensuring the quality of the lots and market attention."
Looking ahead, Ms. Li Hua believes that the contemporary jade carving market will continue to maintain a steady growth trend. She advises collectors to focus on the following points when investing in contemporary jade carving: first, the artistry and originality of the work; second, the quality and rarity of the jade material; third, the artistic status and development potential of the creator; and fourth, the traceable provenance of the work. With the transparency of market information and the improvement of collectors' appreciation levels, future collection and investment in contemporary jade carving will increasingly emphasize its cultural and artistic value.
The success of this Xiling Yinshe Spring Auction has undoubtedly injected a strong shot in the arm for the long-sluggish art market, and the outstanding performance of the contemporary jade carving section, in particular, signals broad development prospects for this field in the future.