【Beijing, November 15, 2026】The highly anticipated China Guardian 2026 Autumn Auction concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total turnover of RMB 2.85 billion, with a sell-through rate of 78.3%. Among them, the “Contemporary Jade Carvings” special session, which garnered significant market attention, performed exceptionally well, achieving a total turnover of RMB 320 million and a high sell-through rate of 92.5%. This session became a major highlight of the autumn auction, injecting a strong boost into the somewhat sluggish art market.
Contemporary Jade Carvings Session: Masterpieces Emerge, Achieving Excellent Results
The “Contemporary Jade Carvings” special session featured a total of 120 exquisite lots, covering various materials such as Hetian jade, jadeite, and Nanhong agate, and showcasing representative works by numerous contemporary jade carving masters. Among them, the Hetian jade seed material sculpture “Auspicious Beasts Bringing Good Fortune” by national-level jade carving master Wang Moumou, with its superb craftsmanship and superior jade quality, was finally hammered at a high price of RMB 38 million after multiple rounds of intense bidding, far exceeding its pre-auction estimate (RMB 20-25 million), with a premium rate of 52%. Another jadeite pendant “Zen Landscape” designed by young jade carving artist Li Moumou, with its unique modern aesthetic and ingenious conception, was sold for RMB 12 million, an increase of 50% from its estimate (RMB 8-10 million), demonstrating the market's recognition of innovative design.
Overall, the hammer prices in this contemporary jade carving session generally exceeded market expectations, with an average premium rate of 28%. Notably, lots in the mid-to-high price range (RMB 1-5 million) performed exceptionally well, with a sell-through rate approaching 100%, indicating collectors' continuous pursuit of quality and artistic value. Works by young artists with novel designs and rare materials also achieved impressive results, suggesting an increasing market acceptance of new-generation talent.
Market Analysis: Clear Signs of Recovery, Value of Masterpieces Highlighted
Senior auction industry analyst Mr. Zhang pointed out: “The strong performance of this Guardian autumn auction, especially the contemporary jade carving session, undoubtedly sends out positive signals of market recovery. In the current macroeconomic environment, the art market is undergoing structural adjustments, but high-quality and scarce artworks, especially contemporary jade carvings with cultural heritage and innovative value, still show significant resilience and appreciation potential. Collectors' pursuit of genuine, exquisite, and rare pieces has never changed, as evidenced by the hammer price of top lots like 'Auspicious Beasts Bringing Good Fortune'.”
Ms. Wang, Vice President of China Guardian Auctions and Head of the Jade Department, stated: “We have observed that the contemporary jade carving market is gradually maturing. Collectors are no longer solely focused on the material but are paying more attention to the artistic quality, cultural connotation, and personal style of the works. The success of this autumn auction proves that our judgment on the potential of the contemporary jade carving market is correct. In the future, we will continue to cultivate this field and discover more promising artists and exquisite pieces.”
Trend Forecast: Diversified Development, Investment Value Highlighted
Looking ahead, the contemporary jade carving market will show diversified development trends. On the one hand, innovative works combining traditional themes with modern aesthetics will be more favored; on the other hand, the perfect combination of rare materials and exquisite craftsmanship will remain a market focus. At the same time, with the rise of a younger generation of collectors, jade carving works with unique design concepts and cultural symbols will have broader market space. Experts generally believe that in the current context of diversified global asset allocation, contemporary jade carvings with stable value and cultural attributes will further highlight their investment and collection value, and are expected to become a new growth point in the art market.
However, market participants also remind that investing in contemporary jade carvings still requires caution, and attention should be paid to the authenticity, quality, artistic value of the works, as well as the academic status and market recognition of the creators, to avoid blindly following trends.