> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/bernard-buffet · updated 2026-11-02

# Bernard Buffet (1928–1999)

Bernard Buffet is a French artist with 995 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $1,905. 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 Bernard Buffet sold in 2026 for $3,741, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Bernard Buffet work worth?

Across 687 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bernard Buffet work is $1,905.

The median Bernard Buffet print sells for $1,200 across 455 lots.

The median Bernard Buffet painting sells for $85,658 across 184 lots.

The median Bernard Buffet work on paper sells for $22,470 across 33 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Bernard Buffet prints typically sell for $698–$2,283 (the middle half of 307 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Bernard Buffet paintings typically sell for $51,292–$119,716 (the middle half of 88 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 | 594 | $1,200†‡ | $61,473 | 76.6% | 2026-08-30 |
| Paintings | 198 | $85,658†‡ | $555,670 | 92.9% | 2026-07-21 |
| Works on Paper | 35 | $22,470†‡ | $62,477‡ | 94.3% | 2026-04-17 |
| Photography | 4 | $168† | $258 | 50% | 2005-03-03 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 75 | $148,437†‡ | $555,670 | — | 2026-05-19 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Bernard Buffet's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (594 lots) median $1,200 with 76.6% sell-through. Paintings (198 lots) median $85,658, record $555,670. A typical Bernard Buffet painting sells for around 71× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 75 lots) the median is $148,437.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 61 | $238–$1,544†‡ | $699†‡ | $5,773 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 307 | $698–$2,283†‡ | $1,223†‡ | $61,473 |

† 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) | 17 | $21,000–$48,052†‡ | $30,672†‡ | $66,833‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 88 | $51,292–$119,716†‡ | $81,780†‡ | $380,887 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 66 | $81,587–$186,989†‡ | $131,694†‡ | $555,670 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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) | 9 | $6,013–$28,530†‡ | $6,151†‡ | $36,012† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $17,747–$32,657†‡ | $25,045†‡ | $42,682 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2015 | $555,670 |
| Paintings | 2015 | $535,688 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $62,477‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $61,473 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $43,311 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $42,682 |
| Photography | 1994 | $258 |
| Photography | 2005 | $78† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

The highest recorded result in each medium. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Bernard Buffet worth?

Across 687 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bernard Buffet work is $1,905. The median Bernard Buffet print sells for $1,200 across 455 lots. The median Bernard Buffet painting sells for $85,658 across 184 lots. The median Bernard Buffet work on paper sells for $22,470 across 33 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Bernard Buffet prints typically sell for $698–$2,283 (the middle half of 307 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Bernard Buffet paintings typically sell for $51,292–$119,716 (the middle half of 88 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 Bernard Buffet print?

Based on 455 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bernard Buffet print is $1,200. 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 Bernard Buffet's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Bernard Buffet print is $61,473.

### What is the average price of a Bernard Buffet painting?

Based on 184 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bernard Buffet painting is $85,658. 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 Bernard Buffet's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Bernard Buffet painting is $555,670.

### What is the average price of a Bernard Buffet work on paper?

Based on 33 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bernard Buffet work on paper is $22,470. 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 Bernard Buffet's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Bernard Buffet work on paper is $62,477. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a medium Bernard Buffet print?

Based on 307 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Bernard Buffet print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,223, 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 Bernard Buffet painting?

Based on 88 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Bernard Buffet painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $81,780, 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 Bernard Buffet's auction record?

Bernard Buffet's auction record is $555,670, set in 2015.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Bernard Buffet auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/bernard-buffet (updated 2026-11-02).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.
