【Hangzhou, May 18, 2026】The highly anticipated Xiling Yinshe 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday, with the 'Scholar's Objects & Jade' special session performing particularly well. The total transaction value reached RMB 128 million, with a remarkable sell-through rate of 89.5%, once again affirming the sustained vitality of the high-end jade scholar's objects market and the profound interest of collectors.
This special session featured 152 exquisite jade scholar's objects, encompassing various brush pots, paperweights, water droppers, seals, and hand-held pieces from the Qing Dynasty to the modern era. Several key lots exceeded expectations, becoming the focus of market attention. Among them, a Qing Qianlong white jade 'Dragon and Phoenix Auspicious' brush pot, with its exquisite craftsmanship and superior jade quality, ultimately sold for a high price of RMB 28 million, far exceeding its pre-auction estimate of RMB 18 million, representing a 55.5% increase. Another mid-Qing Dynasty Hetian white jade 'Blessings and Longevity' seal, with its warm texture and rich patina, was hammered at RMB 12.5 million after multiple rounds of fierce bidding, an increase of 25% over its estimate. In addition, a modern yellow jade 'Scholar under Pine' paperweight also set a new auction record for similar works in recent years, with a transaction price of RMB 3.8 million.
From the overall data, the average transaction price for this jade scholar's objects session was RMB 842,000, an increase of 9.9% compared to the average transaction price of RMB 765,000 for similar sessions in the 2025 Spring Auction, indicating a further enhancement of market recognition for fine jade scholar's objects. The successful transactions of high-value lots, especially those with rare materials and from renowned collections, contributed significantly to the overall transaction volume. At the same time, mid-to-low-priced jade scholar's objects also maintained a high sell-through rate, indicating that the market foundation remains solid.
Mr. Lu Jingqing, Executive Director and General Manager of Xiling Yinshe Auction Co., Ltd., stated in an interview: “The success of this spring auction's jade scholar's objects session once again demonstrates the resilience and potential of the Chinese traditional cultural art market. Collectors' aesthetic taste and investment enthusiasm for jade scholar's objects remain strong, especially for items with clear provenance, exquisite craftsmanship, and superior materials, whose value is being re-evaluated and recognized by the market. We have observed that the younger generation of collectors also shows a keen interest in scholar's objects, which injects new vitality into the market.”
Professor Wang Mingde, a senior expert from the China Jade Culture Research Association, analyzed: “The current jade scholar's objects market shows a trend of polarization. On the one hand, the scarcity of top-tier exquisite pieces determines their high value and continues to attract the attention and pursuit of high-end collectors, with prices repeatedly reaching new highs. On the other hand, the market performance of ordinary categories is relatively stable, but as long as they are in good condition and have auspicious themes, they can still achieve good transactions. In the future, with the strengthening of cultural confidence and the return to traditional literati elegance, the market prospects for jade scholar's objects remain broad, but collectors should pay more attention to jade quality, craftsmanship, cultural connotation, and orderly provenance when making choices.”
Looking ahead, the jade scholar's objects market is expected to continue its steady growth. With the gradual recovery of the global economy and the continuous maturity of the Chinese art market, jade scholar's objects with historical and cultural value and artistic collection value will continue to be favored by collectors. However, the market's selection of lots will be more stringent, and specialization, personalization, and academic rigor will become important directions for future market development. Collectors should invest rationally, conduct in-depth research, and avoid blindly following trends to achieve better collection returns.