【Beijing, May 28, 2026】Poly Auction's recently concluded 2026 Spring Sale once again demonstrated its leading position in the art auction market with its outstanding sales performance and impressive lineup of lots. The total transaction value of this spring sale reached an impressive RMB 2.85 billion, with the highly anticipated 'Great Beauty Without Words – Masterpieces of Chinese Jade Carving' special session performing exceptionally well, achieving a total of RMB 560 million and a remarkable sell-through rate of 92%, far exceeding market expectations and injecting strong confidence into the overall market.
The highlight of this jade carving session was undoubtedly several magnum opuses by master jade carvers. Among them, the 'Prosperous Lotus Rhyme' white jade sculpture created by contemporary jade carving master Wang Lin, with its exquisite craftsmanship and warm jade quality, fetched a staggering RMB 85 million after multiple rounds of fierce bidding, exceeding its upper estimate by 30%, becoming the highest-selling lot of this spring sale. Another piece, 'Mountain and Water Serenity' a jasper mountain carving by Master Li Ming, was hammered at RMB 42 million, an increase of 25% over its estimate. In addition, works by several young and middle-aged jade artists also performed well, such as Zhang Hua's 'Zen Guanyin' celadon jade carving, which sold for RMB 12 million, demonstrating the market's recognition of emerging talents.
From the data, the overall sell-through rate of this spring sale reached 85%, an increase of 5 percentage points compared to the same period last year. Notably, the sell-through rate and premium rate of high-value lots both saw significant improvements, indicating a gradual recovery in the high-end art market. Particularly in the jade carving sector, both its transaction value and sell-through rate reached a three-year high, with an average premium rate of 18%, significantly higher than other categories.
Market Analysis and Trend Judgment:
Professor Zhang, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: "The success of this Poly Spring Sale, especially the strong performance of master jade carvings, is not accidental. It reflects the pursuit of scarce, artistic, and value-preserving hard assets by high-net-worth individuals amidst increasing global economic uncertainty. As a treasure of traditional Chinese culture, jade carving, with its unique material beauty, craftsmanship, and cultural connotations, has become an ideal choice for investment and collection. Furthermore, the nation's increasing emphasis and promotion of traditional culture in recent years have indirectly enhanced the market value and attention of jade carving artworks."
Mr. Li, a jade market analyst, believes: "The results of this spring sale indicate that the jade carving market is poised for a new growth cycle. We observe that the buyer structure is changing; in addition to traditional senior collectors, a younger generation of entrepreneurs and high-income groups are actively participating, focusing more on the artistry and innovativeness of the works. In the future, jade carvings with unique styles, exquisite techniques, and cultural connotations will be more favored, especially those created by renowned masters with clear provenance and documented history, whose value will continue to rise. At the same time, works by young and middle-aged jade artists also show great potential and deserve market attention."
Looking ahead, with the steady development of the Chinese economy and the enhancement of cultural confidence, the art market, especially the traditional cultural art market represented by jade carving, is expected to remain active. Poly Auction's stellar performance in this spring sale undoubtedly sets a positive tone for the art market in 2026 and beyond, signaling the arrival of a vibrant and opportunity-filled era of collecting.