【Beijing, November 25, 2026】Poly Auction's 2026 Autumn Art Sale, which recently concluded, saw a particularly outstanding performance in its 'Glimmering Jade – Masterpieces of Chinese Jade Carving' special session. The total transaction volume reached an impressive RMB 285 million, with a sell-through rate of 92.5%, significantly exceeding market expectations. The success of this session not only highlights the market resilience of top-tier jade carving art but also signals a new wave of investment enthusiasm in the high-end collectibles market.
The special session featured 120 exquisite works by contemporary Chinese jade carving masters, encompassing various forms such as mountain carvings, handheld pieces, display pieces, and vessels. Among them, the highly anticipated focal piece – 'Prosperous Lotus Rhyme,' a white jade mountain carving created by national-level jade carving master Mr. Wang Dong – was hammered down at an astonishing price of RMB 48 million, exceeding its pre-sale estimate by 20%, becoming the 'star lot' of this autumn auction. Crafted from Xinjiang Hetian seed jade, the piece boasts a warm and delicate texture and exquisite craftsmanship, perfectly blending the elegance of the lotus with the prosperity of a flourishing era. Its artistic value and rarity were highly recognized by collectors.
Another piece, 'Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl,' a spinach jade display piece carved by emerging jade carving master Mr. Li Ming, also fetched a high price of RMB 22 million, an increase of 15% over its pre-sale estimate. This work, with its unique creativity and superb craftsmanship, showcased an innovative expression of traditional themes in a contemporary context. Furthermore, multiple master-level handheld pieces and vessels were also sold at prices 10% to 30% above their estimates, indicating strong market demand for exquisite jade carvings.
Market Analysis and Trend Prediction:
The stellar performance of the jade carving session at this Poly Autumn Auction undoubtedly injected a strong shot in the arm for the currently somewhat sluggish art market. From the data, the total transaction volume of RMB 285 million represents a 35.7% increase compared to the same session in the 2025 autumn auction (total transaction volume of RMB 210 million), and the sell-through rate also rose from 85% to 92.5%. This clearly indicates that the high-end jade carving market is experiencing a significant recovery. We observe that collectors are showing immense enthusiasm for jade carving works with rare materials, exquisite craftsmanship, and clear master lineage. Especially for exquisite pieces made from Xinjiang Hetian seed jade, their prices remain firm and even show an upward trend against the general market.
Expert Commentary:
Professor Zhang, a renowned art market analyst, pointed out: "The results of this Poly Autumn Auction once again confirm the 'stronger gets stronger' rule in the art market. Amidst economic cycle fluctuations, top-tier collectibles with genuine artistic value and rarity still demonstrate outstanding ability to preserve and increase value. As a treasure of traditional Chinese culture, jade carving holds an irreplaceable position in high-end collecting due to its profound cultural heritage and unique aesthetic value. Particularly, works personally created by national or provincial-level jade carving masters, with clear provenance and complete documentation, still have immense appreciation potential in the future."
Veteran collector Mr. Wang also stated: "I have been following the jade carving market for many years, and my biggest feeling from this autumn auction is that the market is increasingly valuing the artistry of the works and the brand effect of the masters. In the past few years, prices for some ordinary jade materials or works with mediocre craftsmanship have seen a decline, but true masterpieces, especially those that integrate the essence of traditional culture with modern aesthetic innovation, remain the focus of collectors. The high price achieved by 'Prosperous Lotus Rhyme' is the best proof of this."
Looking ahead, with the continuous development of the Chinese economy and the increasing cultural confidence, the market demand for high-end jade carving art will remain strong. We anticipate that within the next two years, exquisite jade carvings made from rare Hetian jade by renowned masters are expected to maintain steady growth in price, and even achieve new breakthroughs. At the same time, the market will place higher demands on the originality, artistry, and cultural connotation of the works, which will undoubtedly further promote innovation and development in the jade carving industry.