【Hangzhou, May 18, 2026】The highly anticipated Xiling Yinshe 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday. Among them, the “Jade Radiance – Hetian Jade Masterpieces Special Sale” performed exceptionally well, with a total transaction value exceeding 250 million RMB and a remarkable sell-through rate of 92.3%, once again confirming the strong growth momentum of the high-end Hetian jade market.
This special sale featured 128 carefully selected Hetian jade lots, covering various categories such as籽料 (seed jade), 山料 (mountain jade),碧玉 (spinach green jade), and 墨玉 (ink jade). Many of these were rare pieces with superior material and exquisite craftsmanship by renowned carvers. The data shows that the total transaction value of the special sale reached 251 million RMB, an increase of 15.7% compared to the same period last year. The average unit price reached 1.96 million RMB, setting a new high for Xiling Yinshe's Hetian jade special sales in recent years. Among them, 12 lots sold for over 10 million RMB, and 28 lots sold for over 5 million RMB, demonstrating the market's strong pursuit of exquisite Hetian jade.
Key Lot Review:
* “Mutton-fat Jade Seed Jade Carving 'Auspicious Beasts Presenting Good Fortune' Handpiece”: As the highest-priced lot of the sale, this 350-gram mutton-fat jade seed jade, with its warm and delicate texture, flawless white color, and superb carving of auspicious beasts, finally hammered at 38 million RMB, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of 28 million RMB, with an increase of 35.7%. The buyer was a seasoned collector from Hong Kong, indicating international market recognition for top-tier Hetian jade.
* “Hetian White Jade 'Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains' Mountain Carving”: This mountain carving, with its magnificent artistic conception, intricate carving, and rare white jade material, went through multiple rounds of fierce bidding and finally sold for 22 million RMB, with a premium rate of 29.4%.
* “Spinach Green Jade 'Lotus Pond Serenity' Ornament”: A spinach green jade ornament with rich color and oily texture, depicting a vivid lotus pond scene with ingenious design, was acquired by a new domestic collector for 8.5 million RMB, showcasing the growing appeal of the spinach green jade market.
Market Analysis and Trend Prediction:
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry journalist and jade market analyst, pointed out: “The success of Xiling Yinshe's Hetian jade special sale is not accidental. It reflects a core trend in the current Chinese art market: capital is accelerating its flow towards hard assets with scarcity, cultural value, and potential for preservation and appreciation. As a representative of Chinese jade culture, top-grade Hetian jade seed material resources are increasingly depleted, making its collection and investment value even more prominent.”
Mr. Li Ming further analyzed: “From the transaction data, the market shows extremely high enthusiasm for exquisite Hetian jade that is 'good in material, fine in craftsmanship, and auspicious in meaning.' Especially natural seed jade that has not undergone artificial optimization, and works created by renowned jade carving masters, their price increases and sell-through rates are much higher than ordinary lots. This indicates that the collector base is becoming more mature and rational, paying more attention to the natural attributes, artistic value, and cultural connotations of jade, rather than blindly following trends. In the future, we expect the market enthusiasm for exquisite Hetian jade to continue, especially for works with cultural heritage significance and artistic innovation value, which will be more sought after.”
Expert Commentary:
Professor Wang, Vice President of the China Gem and Jade Association and a renowned jade culture scholar, commented: “The results of this auction are exhilarating. It not only demonstrates the vitality of the Hetian jade market but also injects new impetus into the inheritance of jade culture. The scarcity of top-grade Hetian jade seed material is the fundamental reason for its value, while exquisite jade carving art gives it soul. We see that more and more young collectors are beginning to pay attention to Hetian jade, which has profound significance for promoting Chinese jade culture. At the same time, the auction market also provides a platform for jade carving artists to showcase their talents, promoting the inheritance and innovation of jade carving techniques.”
Overall, the excellent performance of Xiling Yinshe's 2026 Spring Auction Hetian Jade Special Sale undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the entire art market. Against the backdrop of complex and changing economic conditions, high-end Hetian jade, as a scarce resource with both cultural attributes and investment value, is increasingly becoming a focus for collectors and investors.