BEIJING, May 28, 2026 – Poly Auction's highly anticipated 2026 Spring Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the “Splendid Jade Rhyme – Contemporary Chinese Master Jade Carvings” special session performing exceptionally well. Multiple master jade carvings sold for prices far exceeding expectations, signaling a strong rebound in the high-end jade art market.
The special session featured 120 meticulously selected jade carving pieces, achieving a total transaction value of RMB 285 million, with an impressive sell-through rate of 88.3%. This figure represents a 15% increase compared to the same period last year, indicating sustained high enthusiasm among collectors for jade carving art. Among the highlights was the 'Prosperous Lotus Rhyme' white jade ornament by contemporary jade carving master Wang Jianping. Its exquisite craftsmanship, warm jade quality, and profound cultural connotations led to a final hammer price of RMB 38 million, significantly surpassing its estimate of RMB 25 million, achieving a premium rate of 52%. Another piece, 'Auspicious Beasts Presenting Good Fortune' celadon jade screen by Master Li Mingyuan, sold for RMB 22 million, an increase of 37.5% over its estimate. Additionally, several innovative works by emerging and mid-career jade artists also performed strongly, with an average transaction price increasing by about 10% compared to last year, demonstrating market recognition for new talent.
Mr. Wang, General Manager of Poly Auction's Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy and Antiques & Curios Department, stated in an interview: “The success of this spring sale's jade carving session is not only due to the exceptional quality of the lots themselves and the masters' superb skills but also reflects the current art market's pursuit of rarity, artistry, and cultural value, especially in the high-end collection sector. We observe that with the gradual economic recovery, high-net-worth individuals' willingness to invest in art with potential for value preservation and appreciation has significantly increased. Jade carving, as a treasure of traditional Chinese culture, its unique charm and scarcity make it an ideal investment target.”
Market analysts believe that the outstanding performance of the jade carving segment in this Poly Spring Sale indicates that the high-end jade art market has entered a steady upward trend. Firstly, with the continuous improvement of the domestic economy, the growth of residents' wealth provides a solid foundation for the art market. Secondly, the scarcity of master jade carvings is key to their continuous appreciation in value. A work that takes several years to complete and embodies the master's painstaking efforts, its artistic and collection value is self-evident. Furthermore, the younger generation of collectors' growing identification with traditional culture has injected new vitality into the inheritance and development of jade carving art. In the future, jade carvings with unique artistic styles, exquisite craftsmanship, and clear provenance will continue to be the market's focus.
Professor Zhang, a senior jade appraiser and market commentator, pointed out: “The results of this auction send a clear signal: the market highly recognizes truly master-level jade carvings and is willing to pay a high premium for them. This is not just a material transaction, but also a continuation and promotion of the essence of traditional Chinese cultural art. At the same time, the mid-to-low-end jade market still faces certain adjustment pressures, but high-quality, storied, and well-provenanced exquisite jade carvings will continue to have their value discovered and affirmed by the market.”
Looking ahead, with the increasing maturity of art investment concepts and the optimization of the collector base, the jade carving art market is expected to maintain a steady upward trend. Poly Auction stated that it will continue to cultivate the field of jade carving art, presenting more exquisite works to collectors and jointly promoting the prosperity and development of Chinese jade culture and art.