China Guardian USA

A spectacular season concludes at China Guardian. 🥂

We are thrilled to announce that the China Guardian 2026 Spring Auctions achieved a total sales of 𝐔𝐒𝐃 𝟐𝟓𝟏 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧, driven by a powerful 81.5% sell-through rate!

This season’s extraordinary momentum was highlighted by historic milestones, including 𝟐 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐒𝐃 and over 𝟑𝟎 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝟏 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐒𝐃. From masterworks of classical Chinese painting to dynamic contemporary expressions, the global collecting community demonstrated immense passion and connoisseurship.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our collectors, bidders, and specialists worldwide for making this a truly unforgettable season.

✨ Stay tuned as we prepare to bring you more insights and rare masterpieces for the 2026 Spring Auctions.

Leading the season with an extraordinary result, this masterpiece proudly stands as the most expensive work sold across the entire Spring Auctions. This exceptional handscroll from our Grand View evening sale showcased the brilliant technique of Da Xieyi, a style that prioritizes ”spirit over formal likeness.“

Do you notice the subtle nuances of the brushwork between the different types of paper?

Look closely and you‘ll see that, in the first four sections, the highly absorbent paper demanded rapid, sweeping strokes. Xu Wei’s brush moves like a storm, capturing the raw, spontaneous energy of breaking waves and bursting pomegranates before the ink could bleed. In the last and longest section, which used a semi-sized paper, the ink settled more deliberately. The slower absorption allowed for deliberate, velvet-like tonal gradients across the banana leaves, bringing the handscroll to its visual climax.

As a pioneer of Da Xieyi, Xu’s untamed style influenced and inspired countless subsequent painters, undoubtedly changing the course of Chinese art history.

China Guardian Spring Auctions 2026 | Lot 2869 | Xu Wei 徐渭 | Nature Sketches 写生卷
Medium: Handscroll; ink on paper
Size:
① 29×38.8 cm. 11 3/8×15 1/4 in.
② 29×39.4 cm. 11 3/8×15 1/2 in.
③ 29×31 cm. 11 3/8×12 1/4 in.
④ 29×40.3 cm. 11 3/8×15 7/8 in.
⑤ 29×119.2 cm. 11 3/8×46 7/8 in.
Price Realized: CNY 104,650,000 (USD 15,439,000)

The momentum of the art week continues this week. Part II of the China Guardian 2026 Spring Auctions preview opens grandly tomorrow, May 21.

This part features a magnificent, multi-category lineup heavily led by Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy. Following this brilliance is a diverse array of Rare Books and Rubbing Books, Fine Wine & Spirits, Rare Tea, Stamps and Covers, Coins, Banknotes, and 88 lots of highly sought-after Collectible Trading Cards.

Bringing together nearly 5,000 exceptional collections across 19 curated special sessions. Part II offers an unparalleled journey through art and history. Join us at the Guardian Art Center to discover these hidden gems! 🔎✨

𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: May 21–23
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞:10:00-19:00 CST
𝐀𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: May 24-27
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: No. 1, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China

Jin Nong is widely celebrated for his highly unique approach to Chinese calligraphy. He drew inspiration from the rugged, weathered characters carved into ancient stone monuments to invent his iconic “Lacquer Script”, a rule-breaking style defined by striking contrast.

Look closely to see the visual drama playing out in the ink. His horizontal strokes are thick, flat, and squared-off, mimicking heavy layers of lacquer to give the piece a monumental, timeless strength. He masterfully balances this weight with elegant vertical lines that taper into sharp points, occasionally letting the brush run dry to leave a textured scratch of white paper showing through.

The result is a powerful masterpiece that finds a deep, monumental beauty in the intentionally unpolished. We invite you to view this historic work in person at our upcoming Spring Auctions in Beijing.

Lot 3864 | Excerpt from the “Huashan Temple Stele” 漆书节录《西岳华山庙碑》 | Jin Nong 金农
Size: 119×39 cm. 46 7/8×15 3/8 in.

𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲
Preview: May 21 – 23
Time: 10:00-19:00 CST
Auction: May 27, 10:00 CST Hall A
Venue: Guardian Art Center, Beijing

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐒𝐃 𝟏𝟏𝟔 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥! 🥂

The first part of our 2026 Spring Auctions has officially drawn to a successful close, marking a robust commencement to the season:

💰Sales Total: 116 MillionUSD
🏆Premium Lots: 21 lots realized over 1 Million USD

With packed salerooms and competitive yet discerning bidding, these results underscore the resilience and vitality of the current art market.

🔜 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟏. Join us as we begin the next chapter of the Spring Auctions.

📍 Part II
Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy｜Rare Books & Manuscripts｜Fine Wines & Tea｜Stamps & Coins
Preview: May 21–23
Time: 10:00-19:00 CST
Auctions: May 24-27

📍 Location:
Guardian Art Center
No. 1, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District,Beijing, China

Fu Lei, a visionary art critic and scholar, achieved what the rest of the art world could not: he decoded the ”black, dense, and heavy“ style of Huang Binhong’s work. While others saw only ink-drenched chaos, Fu Lei recognized a revolutionary bridge between tradition and modernism.

In 1943, to honor this rare intellectual resonance, the 80-year-old Master Huang presented the 35-year-old critic with a profound gift, the Twelve Views of Mount Qingcheng. This was more than a gesture of friendship; it was a master conferring his legacy upon the critic who had finally articulated his pursuit of the ”Universal Tao“ through the interplay of ”The Self“ and ”The Non-Self.“

Preserved by Fu Lei’s family for over half a century, this album stands as the ultimate testament to a rare convergence, when Huang Binhong’s art met its deepest resonance.

Witness the Twelve Views of Mount Qingcheng, the 1943 gift from Huang Binhong to Fu Lei, at the China Guardian 2026 Spring Auctions.

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰: 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 ᐧ 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧
Preview: May 21 – 23
Time: 10:00-19:00 CST
Auction: May 24, 17:30 CST Hall A
Venue: Guardian Art Center, Beijing

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐜𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐬: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥. What began in the 19th century as simple paper reinforcements for to***co has transformed into a global asset class where sporting heritage meets investment-grade value.

These ’monuments in miniature‘ serve as historical archives of the arena’s most storied triumphs. This season, China Guardian is honored to present a curated selection of these premier lots, bringing the category into the primary auction spotlight.

Featured Categories:
🏀 Basketball | ⚽️ Soccer | ⚡️ Pokémon | 🏎️ F1 | 🏈 NFL

Join us as we celebrate the legends engraved in cardstock.

𝐀𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲: 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞
Preview: May 21 – 23
Time: 10:00-19:00 CST
Auction: May 24, 19:30 CST Hall B
Venue: Guardian Art Center, Beijing

The China Guardian 2026 Spring Auction has officially commenced!🌸

This preview exhibition showcases over 2,200+ exceptional lots across four major categories: 𝟐𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 & 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐭, 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 & 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐫𝐭, 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫’𝐬 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 & 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐫𝐲 & 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬.

Here, art is more than just a visual experience; it invites effortless participation, awaiting a soulful encounter with every connoisseur.

The celebration has only just begun. We warmly invite you to join us this spring to experience this grand showcase of heritage and creativity.

📍𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: May 7–9
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞:10:00-19:00 CST
𝐀𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: May 10-12
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: No. 1, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China

In the world of connoisseurship, an object becomes a witness to history. This Yuan Dynasty Goose-Shaped She Inkstone tells a story spanning seven centuries.

It began when Wang Xizhi famously traded his calligraphy for geese; the bird has come to embody scholarly refinement. Here, with remarkable economy of line, the sculpted form transforms stone into a composed, almost sentient presence upon the scholar’s desk.

The lithic material is fashioned from the rare ”Golden Star“ She stone from Longwei Mountain, a relic of a vanished era. After these legendary mines suffered a catastrophic collapse in 1354, the supply of such high-quality stone was lost forever, making this an exceptionally rare period piece.

Its provenance is equally illustrious—once a crown jewel of Bando Kunzan’s “Number One Inkstone Studio,” exhibited at the Tokyo National Museum since 1951, and recorded in major publications—this piece stands as a masterwork that has endured through time.

Lot 2127 | Yuan Dynasty 元 | Goose Shaped She Inkstone With Gold Specks, Inscribed by Zhao Mengfu 赵孟頫铭 鹅形金星歙砚
Size: 27.5×14.5×5.2 cm.
Provenance:
From the Collection of Bando Kanzan