Hangzhou, November 22, 2026 – The highly anticipated Xiling Yinshe 2026 Autumn Auction concluded successfully yesterday. The total transaction value of this autumn auction reached an impressive RMB 1.28 billion, with a sell-through rate of 86.5%, representing a 15% increase compared to the same period last year. This indicates a strong recovery trend in the art market, especially in the jade sector. Among them, Hetian jade masterpieces were particularly striking, with several important pieces setting new market records, becoming the biggest highlight of this auction.
Hetian Jade Special Session: Masterpieces Emerge, Achieving Repeated Success
This autumn auction's “Jade Luster – Hetian Jade Masterpieces Special Session” featured 120 lots, with 112 ultimately sold, achieving a high sell-through rate of 93.3%. The total transaction value reached RMB 450 million, accounting for over 35% of the total auction value. This figure not only far exceeded expectations but also once again demonstrated the scarcity and investment value of top-tier Hetian jade in the market.
The leading lot, a Qianlong period (Qing Dynasty) “White Jade Seed Material Chilong-pattern Washer” weighing approximately 850 grams, with its warm and delicate jade quality and exquisite carving, was finally sold for a high price of RMB 88 million, far exceeding its previous estimate of RMB 60 million, with a premium rate of 46.7%. Another highly anticipated piece, a “Celadon Jade Carved Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl Large Ornament,” with its magnificent grandeur and superb craftsmanship, started bidding at RMB 25 million and, after multiple rounds of intense bidding, was finally hammered at RMB 42 million, an increase of 68%. In addition, several Hetian jade seed material hand-held pieces and pendants also performed well, with an average premium rate exceeding 30%.
Market Analysis: Driven by Scarcity and Cultural Value, High-End Market Remains Strong
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: “The excellent performance of the Hetian jade sector in this Xiling autumn auction is a strong signal from the market for the return of scarce resources and traditional cultural values. In the context of macroeconomic challenges, top-tier artworks, especially Hetian jade with its profound cultural heritage and non-renewable attributes, increasingly highlight its role as a safe haven and a means of preserving and increasing value. Collectors' pursuit of exquisite Hetian jade is no longer just a material investment but also an affirmation of traditional Chinese aesthetics and craftsmanship.”
Ms. Zhang Hua, head of the Jade Department at Xiling Yinshe Auction Co., Ltd., stated: “We have observed that in recent years, the market's aesthetic standards and collecting philosophy for Hetian jade have been gradually improving. Collectors no longer solely focus on the whiteness of the jade but pay more attention to its warmth, oiliness, skin color, as well as the artistry and cultural connotation of the carving. In this auction, those lots with superior jade quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and auspicious themes, regardless of their age, were highly sought after by collectors. This indicates that the market is returning to rationality, focusing more on the comprehensive value of artworks.”
Future Trends: Refinement, Branding, Internationalization
Looking ahead, industry experts generally believe that the Hetian jade market will show development trends of “refinement, branding, and internationalization.” As resources become increasingly scarce, the scarcity of high-quality Hetian jade will further enhance its value; works by jade carving masters with brand effects will be more favored; at the same time, with the increasing influence of Chinese culture, the international market's attention to Hetian jade will also gradually increase.
The success of this Xiling Yinshe autumn auction undoubtedly brought a successful conclusion to the 2026 art market and laid a positive tone for the market trend in 2027. We have reason to believe that in the coming years, Hetian jade, as a treasure of Chinese jade culture, will continue to play a crucial role in the art market.