【Beijing, November 22, 2026】Poly Auction's 2026 Autumn Art Sale concluded successfully yesterday. The highly anticipated 'Gems of Jade — Important Ancient Jadeware Special Session' performed exceptionally well, achieving a total transaction value of RMB 380 million with a remarkable sell-through rate of 88.5%. This significantly exceeded market expectations, once again demonstrating the strong resilience and collecting enthusiasm in the high-end ancient jade market.
This ancient jadeware session presented 120 rare lots, covering various jade artifacts from the Neolithic period to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Several high-ancient jade pieces stood out, becoming the focal points of the auction. The leading lot, a 'Late Shang Dynasty Celadon Jade Gui with Deity Motif,' hammered at RMB 85 million, reaching a final price of RMB 97.75 million with commission. This was nearly 40% higher than its estimate (RMB 50-70 million), setting a new auction record for Shang Dynasty jade guis in the past five years. Another 'Early Western Zhou Dynasty Jade Cong with Beast Mask Motif' also sold for RMB 42 million, with a premium rate of 25%. Overall, the high-ancient jade segment accounted for 65% of the session's total turnover, with an average premium rate of 18%, indicating a value resurgence driven by the scarcity of top-tier high-ancient jade resources.
In the mid-to-low-end jadeware segment, Ming and Qing dynasty jades also showed steady growth. A 'Qianlong Period White Jade Carved Dragon and Phoenix Bottle' sold for RMB 12 million, meeting market expectations. However, some Ming and Qing jades with average condition and less clear provenance faced some unsold pressure, indicating collectors' increasing pickiness regarding the quality and origin of lots.
Market Analysis and Trend Forecast:
The outstanding performance of this Poly Autumn Sale's ancient jadeware session sends several important market signals. Firstly, the value of top-tier high-ancient jade continues to be recognized and sought after by the market. Its unique cultural, historical, and artistic value ensures its strong resilience against market fluctuations. Secondly, amidst global economic uncertainties, high-net-worth individuals' demand for art investments with value preservation and appreciation attributes remains robust. Ancient jade, as a treasure of Chinese civilization, is undoubtedly an ideal investment target. Thirdly, the auction house's professionalism in lot sourcing, academic research, and promotional efforts is crucial for enhancing lot value and attracting buyers. Poly's meticulous attention to lot provenance, dating verification, and catalog production earned widespread trust from collectors.
Expert Commentary:
Professor Li Ming, a renowned jade identification expert and executive director of the Jade Committee of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics, stated in an interview with our newspaper: "The success of this Poly Autumn Sale's ancient jadeware session is not accidental. It reflects the current market's strong demand for exquisite ancient jades, especially those high-ancient jades with clear dating, superb craftsmanship, and unique cultural connotations. These collectors not only focus on investment returns but also value the historical and cultural significance and heritage of the collections. In the future, we anticipate that high-quality, scarce ancient jadeware will remain a hard currency in the auction market, while ordinary pieces lacking compelling stories will continue to see diversified market performance."
Senior art market analyst Wang Qiang added: "From the data, both the sell-through rate and premium rate of this auction are very healthy. The outstanding performance of the high-ancient jade segment, in particular, injected a strong boost into the entire antique art market. This indicates that after several years of market adjustment, the ancient jade market has entered a relatively stable upward channel. For collectors, now is a good time to acquire exquisite ancient jades, but at the same time, it is crucial to be wary of fakes and low-quality lots in the market, with rational investment being key."
In conclusion, the success of Poly's 2026 Autumn Sale ancient jadeware session not only instilled confidence in the market but also pointed the direction for the future development of the ancient jade market: refinement, academic rigor, and internationalization will be the main themes. Collectors and investors should continue to focus on the quality, provenance, and cultural value of lots to achieve better collection and investment returns.