Beijing, November 20, 2026 – The highly anticipated Poly Autumn 2026 Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday. The “Brilliant Condensation: Masterpieces of Contemporary Chinese Jade Carving Masters” special sale particularly stood out, with multiple master jade carvings fetching high prices, once again affirming the strong resilience and steady growth of the high-end jade art market.
This jade carving special sale featured a total of 120 lots, with 108 pieces successfully sold, achieving an impressive sell-through rate of 90%, significantly exceeding market expectations. The total transaction value reached RMB 185 million, representing a 15.6% increase compared to the total transaction value of similar special sales in the autumn auction of the same period in 2025. Among them, several pieces saw significant premiums, with the highest premium rate reaching 280%.
Regarding the highlight lots, Mr. Wang Zuguang's white jade seed material sculpture, “Guanyin Seated Statue,” was hammered at RMB 38 million, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of RMB 25 million, becoming the highest-priced lot of the sale. This piece, crafted from Hetian mutton-fat jade seed material, boasts exquisite texture and masterful carving, depicting Guanyin with solemn and compassionate features. It is considered a pinnacle work from Mr. Wang Zuguang's later years. Another piece, a celadon jade “Landscape Plaque” by Cui Lei, a national intangible cultural heritage inheritor, sold for RMB 12.5 million, achieving a premium rate of 56.25% compared to its estimate of RMB 8 million. This work, with its unique freehand style and intricate composition, showcases Master Cui Lei's profound artistic skill.
From the data, the success of this autumn auction is not accidental. Over the past three years, the high-end jade carving art market has continued to heat up, especially for master-level works with clear provenance and artistic value. Their scarcity and artistry make them a focal point for collectors. According to Mr. Li Ming, a market analyst at Poly Auction: “The success of this autumn auction is, on one hand, due to China's steady economic recovery and the strong demand for art investment from high-net-worth individuals; on the other hand, jade carving art, as a treasure of traditional Chinese culture, is increasingly recognized for its cultural and collection value in the international market. We have observed that new, younger collectors are showing growing interest in jade carving art, focusing more on the innovation and personal style of the artists.”
Professor Zhang Hua, Vice President of the China Gem and Jade Association and an industry expert, highly praised the auction results. He pointed out: “The works of older generation jade carving masters such as Wang Zuguang and Cui Lei have reached new heights in artistic quality and market recognition. Their works not only represent the highest level of contemporary Chinese jade carving but also carry profound cultural connotations. At the same time, we should also note that the works of some young and middle-aged jade artists are starting to emerge, and their innovative concepts and exquisite craftsmanship are injecting new vitality into the market. In the future, the jade carving market will show a more diversified and high-quality development trend.”
Looking ahead, with the continuous enhancement of China's cultural confidence and increasing global attention to Oriental art, the market prospects for jade carving art remain broad. Poly Auction stated that it will continue to deepen its presence in the jade carving art market, discover more promising artists and works, provide collectors with higher-quality collection options, and strive to promote Chinese jade carving art to the world stage.