Bertha Lum (1879–1954)
What is Bertha Lum’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 111 auction results for Bertha Lum at 16 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $800 including buyer’s premium (middle half $431–$1,047, n=18). The auction record is $4,675 for Mother West Wind (2003, John Moran Auctioneers). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Persimmon market, 1869 | Oil and graphite on paper mounted to paperboard | $3,750 | Bonhams | Apr 2017 |
| 2 | two standing Chinese figures s & dated l/r: Bertha Lum '31 raised line color "print" with applied w/c gouache under glass, 1931 | Raised line color print with applied watercolour gouache under glass | $2,475 | John Moran Auctioneers | Nov 2003 |
| 3 | Bertha Lum (1869-1954 San Francisco, CA) | Gouache, wash and graphite with painted gilt highlights on board | $2,280 | John Moran Auctioneers | Apr 2013 |
| 4 | Geisha, 1924 | Raised line, hand colored block print | $2,100 | Revere Auctions | Sep 2020 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mother West Wind, 1918 | Color woodcut | $4,675 | John Moran Auctioneers | Nov 2003 |
| 2 | Rain, 1908 | Woodcut on thin | $3,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2015 |
| 3 | Rain, 1908 | Woodcut on thin | $3,380 | Swann Auction Galleries | Mar 2022 |
| 4 | Bertha Lum (1869-1954 San Francisco, CA) | Woodcut | $3,300 | John Moran Auctioneers | Oct 2014 |
| 5 | Fishermen; Rain, 1913 | Woodcuts | $2,400 | Swann Auction Galleries | Sep 2012 |
| 6 | Kites; Wind and Rain; Temple Gate, 1912 | Woodcut | $2,000 | Bonhams | Oct 2016 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 10 | $1,140 |
| Prints | 54 | $720 |
| Other | 15 | $588 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 5 | $1,020 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 70 | $733 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 111 results from 16 houses · How we compute these figures
Bertha Lum is an American artist with 141 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $690. 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 Bertha Lum sold in 2026 for $900, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Bertha Lum record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Bertha Lum on OpeningBid →What is a Bertha Lum work worth?
Across 101 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bertha Lum work is $690.
The median Bertha Lum print sells for $690 across 90 lots.
The median Bertha Lum work on paper sells for $715 across 7 lots.
The median Bertha Lum painting sells for $1,100 across 1 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Bertha Lum prints typically sell for $459–$1,295 (the middle half of 74 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 | 104 | $690†‡ | $4,675 | 86.5% | 2026-09-17 |
| Paintings | 1 | $1,100 | $1,100 | — | 2025-11-18 |
| Works on Paper | 10 | $715‡ | $3,750 | 70% | 2026-03-18 |
| Photography | 1 | $325‡ | $325‡ | — | 2023-11-29 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $3,565 | $4,675 | — | 2022-03-10 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Bertha Lum's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (104 lots) median $690 with 86.5% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $1,100, record $1,100. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 6 lots) the median is $3,565.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 74 | $459–$1,295†‡ | $708†‡ | $4,675 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $612–$1,530‡ | $985‡ | $2,100‡ |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2003 | $4,675 |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $3,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $3,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $2,280 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $1,100 |
| Photography | 2023 | $325‡ |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Bertha Lum worth?
Across 101 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Bertha Lum work is $690. The median Bertha Lum print sells for $690 across 90 lots. The median Bertha Lum work on paper sells for $715 across 7 lots. The median Bertha Lum painting sells for $1,100 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Bertha Lum prints typically sell for $459–$1,295 (the middle half of 74 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 Bertha Lum print?
Based on 90 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Bertha Lum print is $690. 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 Bertha Lum's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Bertha Lum print is $4,675.
What is the average price of a small Bertha Lum print?
Based on 74 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Bertha Lum print (small (under 50 cm)) is $708, 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 Bertha Lum's auction record?
Bertha Lum's auction record is $4,675, set in 2003.
See the full Bertha Lum record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Bertha Lum on OpeningBid →