Alexander Calder (1898–1976)
What is Alexander Calder’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 5,642 auction results for Alexander Calder at 182 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,040 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,994–$50,850, n=630). The auction record is $25,925,000 for Poisson volant (Flying Fish) (2014, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poisson volant (Flying Fish), 1957 | Painted sheet metal, rod and wire | $25,925,000 | Christie's | May 2014 |
| 2 | ALEXANDER CALDER (1898-1976), 1943 | Hanging mobile | $20,415,000 | Christie's | Nov 2025 |
| 3 | Lily of Force, 1945 | Painted sheet metal, rod and wire | $18,562,500 | Christie's | May 2012 |
| 4 | Mariposa, 1951 | Sheet metal, rod and paint | $18,188,400 | Sotheby's | Dec 2020 |
| 5 | 21 Feuilles Blanches, 1953 | Hanging mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint | $17,975,000 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 6 | Fish, 1952 | Hanging mobile—painted steel rod, wire, string, colored glass and metal objects | $17,527,000 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 7 | 39=50, 1959 | Sheet metal, wire and paint | $15,648,500 | Phillips | May 2022 |
| 8 | Blue Moon, 1962 | Sheet metal, rod, wire and paint | $14,352,300 | Sotheby's | May 2024 |
| 9 | 無題 (金屬片及金屬線), 1948 | Metal sheets and metal wire | $11,294,400 | Sotheby's | May 2021 |
| 10 | Snow Flurry, 1950 | Painted sheet metal and wire | $10,386,500 | Christie's | May 2012 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 237 | $482,600 |
| Other | 1,004 | $76,288 |
| Paintings | 67 | $75,000 |
| Works on paper | 908 | $60,000 |
| Prints | 2,274 | $2,448 |
| Photographs | 5 | $526 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 524 | $48,070 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 739 | $18,750 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 2,846 | $4,337 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 5,642 results from 182 houses · How we compute these figures
Alexander Calder is an American artist with 6,482 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $4,750. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Alexander Calder sold in 2026 for $5,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
39 Alexander Calder works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Alexander Calder free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Alexander Calder record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Alexander Calder on OpeningBid →What is a Alexander Calder work worth?
Across 5,438 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Alexander Calder work is $4,750.
The median Alexander Calder print sells for $2,107 across 2,815 lots.
The median Alexander Calder work on paper sells for $62,500 across 866 lots.
The median Alexander Calder sculpture sells for $710,750 across 449 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Alexander Calder prints typically sell for $1,161–$4,064 (the middle half of 2,298 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Alexander Calder work on papers typically sell for $43,750–$106,045 (the middle half of 702 sold lots).
Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 3,163 | $2,107†‡ | $514,224 | 89% | 2026-10-27 |
| Paintings | 110 | $70,775‡ | $3.4M | 89.1% | 2026-10-01 |
| Works on Paper | 908 | $62,500†‡ | $9.1M | 95.4% | 2026-10-01 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 479 | $710,750†‡ | $25.9M | 93.7% | 2026-07-02 |
| Photography | 6 | $518‡ | $4,688 | 83.3% | 2026-05-19 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 949 | $453,840†‡ | $25.9M | — | 2026-10-14 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Alexander Calder's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (3,163 lots) median $2,107 with 89% sell-through. Paintings (110 lots) median $70,775, record $3,372,500. A typical Alexander Calder painting sells for around 34× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 949 lots) the median is $453,840.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 352 | $338–$2,044†‡ | $960†‡ | $62,153 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 2,298 | $1,161–$4,064†‡ | $2,312†‡ | $514,224 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $2,390–$5,433† | $3,200† | $17,500 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 16 | $23,580–$178,550 | $84,925 | $952,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 74 | $43,925–$144,525‡ | $63,500‡ | $1.4M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $317,500–$857,000 | $503,433 | $3.4M |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 119 | $4,868–$25,664†‡ | $11,750†‡ | $1.1M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 702 | $43,750–$106,045†‡ | $69,300†‡ | $2.3M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $27,500–$50,000 | $40,000 | $9.1M |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 162 | $35,140–$460,935†‡ | $178,825†‡ | $5.1M |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 134 | $365,076–$1.7M†‡ | $823,391†‡ | $17.5M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 133 | $1.6M–$4.6M† | $2.7M† | $25.9M |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2014 | $25.9M |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2012 | $18.6M |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $9.1M |
| Paintings | 2017 | $3.4M |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $2.3M |
| Paintings | 2025 | $1.4M |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $514,224 |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $62,153 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Alexander Calder worth?
Across 5,438 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Alexander Calder work is $4,750. The median Alexander Calder print sells for $2,107 across 2,815 lots. The median Alexander Calder work on paper sells for $62,500 across 866 lots. The median Alexander Calder sculpture sells for $710,750 across 449 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Alexander Calder prints typically sell for $1,161–$4,064 (the middle half of 2,298 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Alexander Calder work on papers typically sell for $43,750–$106,045 (the middle half of 702 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a Alexander Calder print?
Based on 2,815 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Alexander Calder print is $2,107. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Alexander Calder's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Alexander Calder print is $514,224.
What is the average price of a Alexander Calder work on paper?
Based on 866 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Alexander Calder work on paper is $62,500. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Alexander Calder's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Alexander Calder work on paper is $9,053,763.
What is the average price of a Alexander Calder sculpture?
Based on 449 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Alexander Calder sculpture is $710,750. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Alexander Calder's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Alexander Calder sculpture is $25,925,000.
What is the average price of a medium Alexander Calder print?
Based on 2,298 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Alexander Calder print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,312, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a medium Alexander Calder work on paper?
Based on 702 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Alexander Calder work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $69,300, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Alexander Calder's auction record?
Alexander Calder's auction record is $25,925,000, set in 2014.
See the full Alexander Calder record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Alexander Calder on OpeningBid →