> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/charles-spencelayh · updated 2026-11-03

# Charles Spencelayh (1865–1958)

## What is Charles Spencelayh’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 61 auction results for Charles Spencelayh at 14 houses since 1996. Over the last 24 months the median price was $792 including buyer’s premium (middle half $329–$8,409, n=7). The auction record is $132,057 for She stoops to conquer (2013, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | She stoops to conquer, 1865 | — | $132,057 | Christie's | Dec 2013 |
| 2 | Time Flies, 1865 | Painting | $106,966 | Christie's | Jun 2015 |
| 3 | A Chelsea Pensioner | Oil on canvas | $79,221 | Christie's | Mar 2011 |
| 4 | Render Unto Caesar | Oil on canvas | $54,000 | Sotheby's | Feb 2025 |
| 5 | Greenwich time, 1865 | Watercolor | $47,548 | Christie's | Oct 2007 |
| 6 | Going at last, 1865 | Pencil | $44,038 | Christie's | Jun 2008 |
| 7 | Helping Mother, 1899 | Oil paint | $30,515 | Sotheby's | Dec 2022 |
| 8 | True to His Colours | Oil paint | $30,515 | Sotheby's | Dec 2022 |
| 9 | The lace maker, 1865 | Pencil | $29,358 | Christie's | Jun 2008 |
| 10 | Much noise, little music, 1865 | Pencil | $28,487 | Christie's | Nov 2003 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 18 | $16,272 |
| Other | 16 | $2,969 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 18 | $17,690 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 16 | $6,145 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 61 results from 14 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Charles Spencelayh is a British (modern) artist with 76 auction lots recorded since 1996, median price $5,786. 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 Charles Spencelayh sold in 2025 for $54,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Charles Spencelayh work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-03).

- [Charles Spencelayh on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/charles-spencelayh?ref=kg:charles-spencelayh) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Charles Spencelayh work worth?

Across 48 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Charles Spencelayh work is $5,786.

The median Charles Spencelayh painting sells for $4,436 across 31 lots.

The median Charles Spencelayh work on paper sells for $1,193 across 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 41 | $4,436†‡ | $106,966 | 75.6% | 2025-12-05 |
| Works on Paper | 27 | $1,193†‡ | $47,548 | 85.2% | 2026-07-28 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $93,094 | $132,057 | — | 2025-02-05 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $2,001–$23,580†‡ | $3,131†‡ | $106,966 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $1,170–$16,770†‡ | $5,863†‡ | $79,221 |

† 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) | 18 | $613–$22,512†‡ | $1,516†‡ | $47,548 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $433–$634† | $499† | $998 |

† 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 | $106,966 |
| Paintings | 2011 | $79,221 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $47,548 |
| Works on Paper | 2008 | $44,038 |

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 Charles Spencelayh worth?

Across 48 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Charles Spencelayh work is $5,786. The median Charles Spencelayh painting sells for $4,436 across 31 lots. The median Charles Spencelayh work on paper sells for $1,193 across 23 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 Charles Spencelayh painting?

Based on 31 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Charles Spencelayh painting is $4,436. 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 Charles Spencelayh's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Charles Spencelayh painting is $106,966.

### What is the average price of a Charles Spencelayh work on paper?

Based on 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Charles Spencelayh work on paper is $1,193. 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 Charles Spencelayh's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Charles Spencelayh work on paper is $47,548.

### What is the average price of a medium Charles Spencelayh painting?

Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Charles Spencelayh painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,863, 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 small Charles Spencelayh work on paper?

Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Charles Spencelayh work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,516, 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 Charles Spencelayh's auction record?

Charles Spencelayh's auction record is $132,057, set in 2013.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Charles Spencelayh auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/charles-spencelayh (updated 2026-11-03).

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.