【Beijing, November 20, 2026】The highly anticipated Poly 2026 Autumn Art Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the 'Treasures and Delicacies – Masterpieces of Chinese Jade Carving' special session performing exceptionally well. The total transaction value reached RMB 185 million, with an impressive sell-through rate of 92.5%, significantly exceeding market expectations. This special session not only reaffirmed the market resilience of high-quality jade carving artworks but also signaled a steady upward trend in the jade carving collection market for the coming years.
The session featured 80 meticulously selected jade carving masterpieces, including representative works by leading figures in contemporary jade carving such as Yang Shihua, Cui Lei, and Wu Jinxing. Among them, Master Yang Shihua's white jade seed material sculpture 'Auspicious Beasts Presenting Blessings' fetched the highest price at RMB 28 million, far exceeding its estimated price of RMB 18 million, with a premium rate of 55.5%. The work, with its warm jade quality, exquisite craftsmanship, and profound cultural connotations, was highly sought after by collectors. Another piece, 'Sound of Mountains and Rivers' in jasper by Master Cui Lei, sold for RMB 15 million, an increase of 50% compared to its estimated price of RMB 10 million. Overall, the average transaction price per piece in this session reached RMB 2.3125 million, an increase of approximately 15% compared to the average transaction price of masterworks in the same period last year.
Mr. Li Ming, Senior Specialist in Chinese Arts and Crafts at Poly Auction, stated in an interview: "The success of this master jade carving special session is the result of multiple contributing factors. Firstly, there is sustained strong demand in the market for top-tier jade carving works that possess rarity, artistic merit, and cultural value. Secondly, contemporary jade carving masters, while inheriting traditional craftsmanship, continuously innovate, making their works more contemporary and collectible. Finally, Poly Auction's professionalism in consignment, appraisal, and promotion also laid a solid foundation for this excellent achievement."
From a market analysis perspective, the current jade carving collection market is undergoing a structural adjustment. On one hand, the market performance of ordinary jade materials or works with mediocre craftsmanship tends to be stable, or even slightly corrected; on the other hand, the value of top-tier jade carving works characterized by the trinity of 'renowned artist, premium material, and exquisite craftsmanship' shows a counter-trend upward momentum. This indicates that collectors are becoming increasingly rational in their investments, focusing more on the artistic value, rarity, and potential for preservation and appreciation of the works. Especially Xinjiang Hetian jade seed material, due to its scarcity, master-level works have become the focus of market pursuit.
Professor Wang Qiang, a senior jade market analyst, pointed out: "The data from this Poly Autumn Sale once again confirms our previous judgment: the jade carving market is developing towards specialization and branding. Over the next three years, we expect the prices of top-tier master jade carving works to maintain a steady annual growth of 10%-20%. At the same time, with the rise of younger generations of collectors, jade carving works that combine traditional charm with modern aesthetics and strong design sense will gradually gain favor. We advise collectors, when investing, to not only pay attention to the master's reputation but also to deeply understand the jade quality, craftsmanship, creativity, and cultural connotations of the work to ensure the long-term value of their investment."
The success of this Poly Autumn Sale undoubtedly injected a strong boost into the entire jade art market. It not only demonstrated the unique charm and market potential of Chinese jade carving art but also pointed the direction for future jade carving collection: only masterpieces can achieve stable and long-term success.