【Hangzhou, May 18, 2026】The highly anticipated Xiling Yinshe 2026 Spring Auction concluded successfully yesterday. The total transaction volume of this spring auction reached an impressive RMB 1.25 billion, with a sell-through rate of 88.7%, once again demonstrating Xiling Yinshe's leading position in the art auction market. Among them, the contemporary jade carving sector performed particularly brilliantly, with a total transaction volume exceeding RMB 280 million, a 25% increase compared to the same period last year, and a sell-through rate as high as 95.3%. Many exquisite pieces sold for prices far exceeding their estimates, becoming the biggest highlight of this auction.
This contemporary jade carving special session presented a total of 120 exquisite lots, covering various materials such as Hetian jade, jadeite, and Nanhong agate, as well as a rich variety of forms including mountain carvings, plaques, and display pieces. Among them, the Hetian jade seed material plaque 'Sound of Mountains and Rivers' created by national-level jade carving master Wang XX, with its delicate texture, exquisite craftsmanship, and profound artistic conception, started at RMB 8 million and finally sold for RMB 18.5 million, with a premium rate of 131.25%, setting a new auction record for contemporary jade carving plaques. Another jadeite 'Butterflies Dancing Among Flowers' display piece designed by young jade carving artist Li XX, with its unique creativity and vivid modeling, started at RMB 3.5 million. After multiple rounds of fierce bidding, it finally sold for RMB 7.2 million, with a premium rate of 105.7%, demonstrating the market's high recognition of innovative jade carving works.
Mr. Lu XX, Executive Director and General Manager of Xiling Yinshe Auction Co., Ltd., stated in an interview: “The excellent performance of the contemporary jade carving sector in this spring auction fully reflects the current market's strong demand for high-quality, high artistic value jade carving works. In particular, works that combine master craftsmanship with innovative spirit are continuously having their market value discovered and enhanced. We have observed that the buyer structure is becoming increasingly diversified. In addition to traditional collectors, more and more younger generations and high-net-worth individuals are also beginning to pay attention to and invest in contemporary jade carvings.”
Market analyst Ms. Zhang pointed out that the contemporary jade carving market has shown a steady growth trend in recent years, mainly due to the following points: Firstly, the increasing scarcity of jade raw materials, especially the sharp decline in the output of high-quality Hetian jade seed material, has led to its continuous increase in value; secondly, the increased support from the state for traditional arts and crafts has significantly improved the social status and influence of jade carving artists, leading to an endless stream of exquisite works; furthermore, with the continuous development of the Chinese economy, the wealth accumulation and cultural consumption upgrading of high-net-worth individuals have led to strong demand for art pieces with both collection and investment value. She predicts that within the next five years, the contemporary jade carving market will still maintain an average annual growth rate of 15%-20%, especially for works with unique artistic styles, profound cultural connotations, and from the hands of renowned masters, which have huge appreciation potential.
The success of this auction not only added new glory to Xiling Yinshe but also injected new vitality into the entire art market. Contemporary jade carving, as a model combining traditional Chinese culture and modern aesthetics, its market value and artistic charm are being recognized and sought after by more and more people. Industry experts generally believe that with the maturity of collection concepts and the diversification of investment channels, contemporary jade carving is expected to become a highly potential investment hotspot in the art market.