【Beijing, May 20, 2026】China Guardian 2026 Spring Auction successfully concluded yesterday at the Guardian Art Center in Beijing. This spring auction highlighted "Master Collections" as its core feature, presenting various special sessions including Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy, Porcelain and Miscellaneous Items, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Oil Paintings and Sculptures. The total transaction value reached an impressive RMB 3.25 billion, with a sell-through rate of 86.7%, indicating that the art market, after a period of adjustment, is gradually recovering its intrinsic vitality and collector confidence.
Undoubtedly, the most anticipated session of the auction was the "Modern and Contemporary Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Master Collections." Among them, Qi Baishi's monumental late-period landscape painting, 'Myriad Mountains in Red,' hammered for RMB 320 million, significantly surpassing its pre-sale estimate of RMB 180 million, with a premium rate as high as 77.8%. This made it the highest-priced lot of the session. This piece boasts a clear provenance and excellent condition, with its rarity and artistic value fully recognized by the market. Additionally, Zhang Daqian's 'Splashed Ink Lotus' sold for RMB 150 million, and Fu Baoshi's 'Night Rain on Bashan Mountains' fetched RMB 85 million, both setting new auction records for similar works by their respective artists.
In the "Antiquities and Treasures" session, a Qianlong period Famille Rose 'Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea' Double-Eared Vase sold for a high price of RMB 98 million, an increase of 63.3% from its pre-sale estimate of RMB 60 million. This exquisite piece, with its superb craftsmanship and perfect preservation, was highly sought after by collectors for its historical, cultural, and artistic appreciation value. A Yongle period Blue and White 'Scrolling Lotus' Meiping vase also sold for RMB 72 million, demonstrating the strong performance of top-tier porcelain in the market.
"The success of this spring auction, especially the robust performance of the master collections segment, undoubtedly injected a strong shot of confidence into the current art market," said Ms. Guo Tong, Vice President of China Guardian Auctions and General Manager of the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Department, in an interview. "We observed that collectors continue to show immense enthusiasm and purchasing power for exquisite pieces with clear provenance, well-documented circulation, and high artistic value. The market is becoming more rational, focusing more on the intrinsic value and cultural heritage of artworks."
Market analysts point out that the results of the 2026 spring auction indicate that the gradual stabilization of the global economic environment, coupled with the trend of upgrading cultural and artistic consumption in China, are jointly driving the steady recovery of the art market. Master collections, as the 'hard currency' of art investment, have once again proven their risk-resistance and appreciation potential. At the same time, the rise of a younger generation of collectors is bringing new vitality and aesthetic preferences to the market, with their increasing attention to contemporary art and emerging collection categories.
Professor Li Ming, a veteran art market commentator, believes: "A highlight of this season's auction is that not only did traditional 'hard currency' items like paintings, calligraphy, and porcelain perform exceptionally well, but some rare ancient books and early oil paintings also achieved remarkable results. This shows that collectors' horizons are broadening, and their perception of art value is becoming increasingly diversified. In the future, artworks with unique cultural connotations and scarcity will continue to be hot pursuits in the market."
Looking ahead, with China's continued economic development and strengthening cultural confidence, the art market is expected to embrace broader development prospects. Guardian Auctions will continue to deeply cultivate the art market, providing more exquisite masterpieces to global collectors with professional services and rigorous attitudes, contributing to the healthy and orderly development of China's art market.