Hangzhou, November 25, 2026 – The highly anticipated Xiling Yinshe 2026 Autumn Auction concluded successfully yesterday. With its carefully selected lots and robust transaction performance, this autumn auction once again demonstrated the profound heritage and strong resilience of the Chinese art market. Among them, the highly sought-after 'Scholars' Objects and Jade' special session was particularly brilliant, with several rare jade scholars' objects fetching prices far exceeding expectations, becoming the biggest highlight of this auction.
Transaction Data: Jade Scholars' Objects Perform Strongly, with an 85% Sell-Through Rate
The total transaction value of this autumn auction reached RMB 380 million, with an overall sell-through rate of 78%. In the 'Scholars' Objects and Jade' special session, a total of 120 lots were presented, with 102 pieces ultimately sold, achieving a high sell-through rate of 85%, significantly exceeding the pre-auction estimate of 75%. The total transaction value reached RMB 120 million, accounting for 31.6% of the total transaction value of this autumn auction.
Among them, a white jade brush pot carved with 'Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove' from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty was hammered at RMB 28 million, exceeding the upper estimate by 30%, becoming the highest-priced lot in this session. The brush pot features warm jade, exquisite carving, and vivid figures, making it a quintessential example of jade scholars' objects from the Qianlong period. Another celadon jade mountain carving of 'Scholar under Pine Tree' from the mid-Qing Dynasty sold for RMB 15 million, an increase of 25% from its estimate. In addition, a set of five Ming Dynasty celadon jade seals carved with 'Bogutu' patterns sold for RMB 8.5 million, with an increase of 20%. Overall, the price increases for exquisite jade scholars' objects generally ranged from 15% to 30%, indicating strong demand in the market for high-quality, rare scholars' objects.
Market Analysis: Value Return of Exquisite Jade Scholars' Objects, Maturing Collector Base
Mr. Li Ming, a senior auction industry analyst, pointed out: “The excellent performance of the jade scholars' objects special session at this Xiling autumn auction is not accidental. In recent years, with the revival of traditional Chinese culture and the improvement of aesthetic taste, jade scholars' objects that combine artistry, historical significance, and practicality are increasingly favored by collectors. Especially those exquisite pieces with superior materials, exquisite craftsmanship, and clear provenance are gradually returning to their value, even surpassing historical highs.”
Mr. Li Ming further analyzed: “The current market shows a 'two-tier' trend. Ordinary categories and items with average condition have relatively stable transactions, or even some adjustments; while truly rare, culturally rich, and artistically valuable top lots have repeatedly achieved excellent results. This indicates that the collector base is becoming increasingly mature, and investment philosophies are more rational, no longer blindly pursuing, but focusing more on the intrinsic value and long-term appreciation potential of the lots.”
Expert Commentary: Cultural Heritage and Rarity are Key Drivers
Professor Zhang Hua, a renowned jade appraisal expert and vice president of the China Jade Culture Research Association, stated in an interview: “The high price achieved by the Qianlong white jade brush pot in this auction fully demonstrates the market's recognition of the carving art of Qing Dynasty imperial jade. Such works not only have superior jade quality, but more importantly, their exquisite craftsmanship and profound cultural connotation. The theme of 'Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove' conveys elegance, aligning with the aesthetic taste of literati and scholars.”
Professor Zhang emphasized: “The collection value of jade scholars' objects, in addition to the material itself, lies more in the cultural information and historical stories it carries. A well-provenanced, exquisitely crafted scholars' object is an artwork in itself, and also a witness to history. In market fluctuations, such culturally rich and rare lots often show stronger resistance to decline and appreciation potential.”
Future Trends: Market Will Continue to Focus on Exquisite Pieces
Looking ahead, the industry generally believes that the Chinese art market, especially the jade scholars' objects segment, will continue to maintain steady growth. As collectors' knowledge and appreciation abilities improve, the market will further focus on exquisite pieces. Jade scholars' objects with unique artistic styles, rare materials, profound cultural connotations, and clear provenance will continue to be hot spots in the market. At the same time, the professionalism of auction houses in lot solicitation, academic research, and market promotion will also be important factors influencing the future market landscape. The success of this Xiling Yinshe autumn auction has undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the 2027 art market, heralding the arrival of a more mature and rational era of collecting.