Editor’s Note
This article profiles Master Ma Rui, a contemporary jade carver whose innovative work has successfully bridged the often-separate worlds of commercial auction success and serious academic recognition, reshaping perceptions of the craft.
In the field of contemporary art, creators who simultaneously gain market recognition and academic affirmation are rare. Master jade carver Ma Rui is one such individual. As a new-generation jade carving inheritor and a master of Hetian jade, he has broken the value boundaries of traditional jade carving through innovative practice. He has not only achieved excellent results in top-tier auction markets but also received widespread recognition in academic circles, and has reshaped public perception of jade art through diverse communication channels.
Ma Rui’s market influence is concentrated in the impressive performance of his works on top auction platforms. Traditional jade carving has long faced the limitation of a “niche collector base,” while Ma Rui’s innovative creations have successfully entered the mainstream auction market, gaining widespread favor from collectors. Top international auction houses like Hong Kong Poly and Sotheby’s have auctioned his representative works multiple times, with single pieces achieving record-high transaction prices. Among them, works like “Dreamland Flower Garden” (bracelet) and “Leaf Lotus Flower” have reached transaction prices exceeding 360,000 yuan, becoming hot indicators in the contemporary jade collection market.
The core reason these works gain market recognition lies in Ma Rui’s innovative interpretation of jade’s value. He has broken the traditional perception that “the more expensive the jade material, the more valuable the work,” integrating craftsmanship innovation, cultural connotations, and modern aesthetics into his creations, ensuring the work’s value is no longer limited to the material itself. For example, “Jade Terrace Blossoms” and the Hetian jade and gold jewelry series showcase artistic expression that transcends traditional jade carving through material crossover and craftsmanship breakthroughs. They are not only highly sought after in the auction market but have also become popular choices for brand collaborations and high-end customizations.
In the academic field, Ma Rui’s achievements are equally prominent, establishing him as an academic-type artist recognized by both Eastern and Western circles. As a member of FGA (Gem-A), a senior member of the China Arts and Crafts Association, and Vice President of the Shanghai Jade and Stone Industry Association, his creative concepts and practical results have been incorporated into professional academic systems. His works have been listed by GIA (Gemological Institute of America) as a case study for “Eastern Craftsmanship,” becoming an important sample for international academic research on contemporary Chinese jade carving. This recognition is not only an affirmation of his personal skill but also signifies that Chinese contemporary jade carving art has gained a voice in international academic discourse.
Beyond dual recognition in market and academia, Ma Rui has also broken the public’s stereotypical impression of jade as “old-fashioned” and “niche” through diverse communication channels, reconstructing public value perception of contemporary jade carving. His works have been featured in numerous national top exhibitions, from the Geneva Watch & Jewellery Show to the Abu Dhabi International Jewellery & Watch Show, and from the Shanghai International Jewellery Fair to the National Arts and Crafts Exhibition, allowing more people to see the contemporary sense and international characteristics of modern jade carving. In 2025, he showcased 30 works at the Abu Dhabi International Jewellery Fair, becoming the only Chinese and Hetian jade high-end jewelry brand to participate. UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, highly praised his works, calling them “a cultural practice that connects people’s hearts along the Belt and Road.”
Media dissemination has helped Ma Rui’s artistic philosophy reach a broader audience. He has been exclusively interviewed by authoritative media such as China Central Television (CCTV2, CCTV4) and China Global Television Network (CGTN), becoming a presenter for CGTN’s overseas cultural promotion unit, narrating the contemporary story of Chinese jade carving to a global audience. Simultaneously, his works and interviews have been featured multiple times in international renowned fashion media like VOGUE, Financial Times, and L’Officiel, breaking the barrier between jade carving art and the fashion field, and making the public realize that jade is not just a traditional craft item but also a fashionable art carrier that can be integrated into modern life.
From the impressive transaction data in the market to authoritative recognition in academia, from the dazzling appearances at national exhibitions to widespread media dissemination, jade carving inheritor Ma Rui has completed the value reconstruction of contemporary jade carving with his all-around achievements. He has proven that the value of contemporary jade carving lies not only in the rarity of the material and the exquisiteness of the craftsmanship but more importantly in the uniqueness of the creativity, the depth of the culture, and the adaptability to the times. As a “double winner” in both market and academia, Ma Rui’s growth trajectory provides valuable inspiration for the contemporary jade carving industry: only by adhering to traditional roots, daring to innovate and break through, considering market demands and academic pursuits, can the ancient art of jade carving glow with new vitality in the new era, achieving the unity of artistic value, market value, and social value.