【Beijing, May 18, 2026】The highly anticipated Poly 2026 Spring Art Auction recently concluded successfully in Beijing. The "Treasures from Nature – Important Jade and Master Jade Carvings" special sale particularly stood out, achieving an impressive 85% sell-through rate and a total transaction value of RMB 320 million, injecting strong confidence into this auction season. The success of this special sale not only demonstrates the market resilience of top-tier jade carving artworks but also indicates that the high-end art market is gradually emerging from its adjustment period.
The special sale featured a total of 120 exquisite jade pieces, with master jade carvings accounting for half of them. Several star lots performed beyond expectations. For instance, the 'Landscape of Clear Sounds' white jade mountain carving by contemporary jade carving master Wang Lin, with its superb relief carving techniques and profound artistic conception, was finally hammered at RMB 38 million, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of RMB 25 million, achieving a premium rate of 52%. Another piece, the 'Blessings and Longevity' Hetian jade ornament carved by the late jade carving doyen Master Li Ming, after multiple rounds of intense bidding, was sold for RMB 25 million. Compared to its transaction price of RMB 18 million in the 2018 autumn auction, its value appreciation reached 38.9%, fully demonstrating the value preservation and appreciation attributes of renowned artists' works.
From the overall data, the sell-through rate of this jade special sale reached 85%, a significant increase from the 78% in Poly's spring auction jade special sale during the same period last year. The total transaction value of RMB 320 million represents a 28% increase compared to RMB 250 million in the same period last year. Among them, the sell-through rate for exquisite jade carvings estimated at over RMB 5 million was as high as 92%, indicating high-end collectors' pursuit of scarcity and artistic value.
"The performance of the jade special sale in this spring auction is inspiring," said Mr. Zhang Hua, head of Poly Auction's Jade Department, in an interview. "We observe that market demand for jade carvings with clear provenance, master craftsmanship, and rare materials remains strong. Especially innovative master works that integrate the essence of traditional culture with modern aesthetic concepts are becoming new investment hotspots. This indicates that collectors, when faced with uncertainty, tend to choose assets with clear value support and high artistic merit."
Professor Li, a Chinese jade market analyst, pointed out: "The success of Poly's jade special sale in this spring auction is the result of multiple converging factors. Firstly, after nearly two years of market adjustment, some bubbles have been squeezed out, and the market has returned to rationality, with collectors having a clearer understanding of the value of exquisite jade. Secondly, against the backdrop of macroeconomic challenges, the demand for art investments with hedging properties and cultural value has increased among high-net-worth individuals. Master jade carvings, due to their irreplicability and artistic uniqueness, have become a quality destination for capital. Furthermore, the auction house's professional operations in consignment, academic curation, and market promotion also laid the foundation for this excellent result."
Looking ahead, the industry generally believes that with the gradual recovery of market confidence, the shift in investment demand from high-net-worth individuals, and the professional operations of auction houses, the market for top-tier jade carving artworks is expected to continue its steady growth. However, for ordinary collectors, investing in jade still requires caution, with a focus on material, craftsmanship, cultural connotation, and the orderly provenance of the works. The scarcity and artistic value of master works will be the core competitive advantage in the future market, and their prices are expected to continue to rise, but the overall market will still show a polarized trend, with ordinary jade potentially facing greater market pressure.