China Guardian 2026 Spring Auction: Master Collections Lead the Recovery, Market Confidence Steadily Rebounds

【Beijing, May 20, 2026】China Guardian's 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday, achieving a total transaction volume of RMB 3.25 billion, a 12.8% increase compared to the same period last year. The highly anticipated 'Master Collections' special sale was particularly outstanding, with a total transaction volume exceeding RMB 1.2 billion and a remarkable sell-through rate of 92%. This became the biggest highlight of the spring auction, injecting a strong dose of confidence into the currently cautious art market.

The 'Master Collections' special sale brought together rare treasures from several important collectors, covering various categories such as Chinese painting and calligraphy, antique curios, and jewelry and jadeite. Among them, Qi Baishi's monumental late-period work 'Shrimp Fun' fetched RMB 180 million, significantly exceeding its pre-sale estimate of RMB 120 million, with a premium rate of 50%. This set a new auction record for Qi Baishi's works in the past three years. Another highly anticipated item, a Qianlong period blue and white 'intertwined lotus' double-handled vase, was sold for RMB 95 million, an increase of 26.7% over its estimate, demonstrating the resilience of the top antique curios market.

In the jewelry and jadeite section, a natural Imperial Green jadeite necklace weighing 50 carats sold for RMB 68 million. Although slightly below its highest estimate, it still achieved a high price, indicating that the scarcity of high-quality jadeite remains a strong support for its value. In addition, several exquisite scholar's objects and Zisha teapots from master collections also performed well, with transaction prices generally exceeding estimates by more than 15%.

Ms. Hu Yanyan, President of China Guardian Auctions Co., Ltd., stated in an interview: “The results of the 2026 Spring Auction are encouraging, especially the success of the 'Master Collections' special sale, which reflects the sustained and strong demand in the market for exquisite pieces with clear provenance and well-documented circulation. In the current economic environment, collectors are paying more attention to the historical value, cultural connotations, and potential for preservation and appreciation of artworks.”

Market Analysis and Trend Forecast:

The auction data clearly reveals several key trends in the current art market:

• Elite Strategy Pays Off: Market capital is further concentrated on top-tier artworks. Master collections, well-documented pieces, and items in excellent condition have become the focus of market pursuit. Collectors' preference for 'hard currency' is increasingly evident.


• Confidence Gradually Recovers: Despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges, the overall sell-through rate and the premium rates of some lots in this auction indicate that market confidence is steadily recovering. Particularly in the fields of Chinese painting and calligraphy and antique curios, buyers are making more decisive moves.


• Jadeite Market Differentiation: High-end jadeite and Hetian jade continue to show strength, while the mid-to-low-end jadeite market performed flatly, or even experienced a slight decline. This suggests that the jadeite market will further develop towards refinement and branding, with ordinary goods facing greater competitive pressure.


• New Buyers Entering: The auction also saw the presence of some new collectors who showed strong interest in art investment, especially in contemporary art and some traditional crafts, bringing new vitality to the market.

Professor Li Ming, a renowned art market commentator, pointed out: “The success of China Guardian's Spring Auction, especially the outstanding performance of 'Master Collections,' sends a positive signal. In times of increased uncertainty, art as an alternative asset allocation is recognized by more high-net-worth individuals for its hedging and appreciation functions. In the future, we expect the market to continue to show a polarized trend, with top-tier exquisite pieces continuing to strengthen, while lots lacking scarcity and cultural added value may face adjustments.”

Senior jadeite appraisal expert Wang Lei stated: “As a treasure of Eastern culture, the value of top-grade jadeite has always been highly recognized by the market. The transaction of Imperial Green jadeite in this spring auction once again confirms the value preservation and appreciation attributes of high-quality jadeite. However, it is also important to note that the liquidity of ordinary jadeite is decreasing, which reminds collectors to pay attention to quality, clarity, and craftsmanship when investing in jadeite, and not to blindly follow trends.”

In summary, China Guardian's 2026 Spring Auction, with its inspiring results, has brought positive signals to the art market. Driven by the leadership of exquisite pieces and the recovery of market confidence, the art market is expected to usher in more stable development in the future.