Clarence John Laughlin (1905–1985)
What is Clarence John Laughlin’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 126 auction results for Clarence John Laughlin at 18 houses since 1994. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,020 including buyer’s premium (middle half $633–$1,506, n=16). The auction record is $12,500 for Selected studies (2011, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Selected studies, 1950 | Gelatin silver prints | $12,500 | Christie's | Dec 2011 |
| 2 | House of the Past, 1905 | Ferrotyped gelatin silver print | $6,300 | Christie's | Oct 2007 |
| 3 | Tender Shadows, Waverly Plantation, West Feliciana Parish, 1905 | Silver gelatin print | $6,169 | Neal Auction Company | Sep 2006 |
| 4 | The Language of Light, 1952 | Silver print | $5,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Mar 2021 |
| 5 | Light on the Cylinders, 1905 | Silver gelatin print | $4,993 | Neal Auction Company | Feb 2008 |
| 6 | The House of the Past, 1948 | Ink on mount recto | $4,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2024 |
| 7 | The Head in the Wall, 1945 | Ink | $3,800 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2007 |
| 8 | The Dynamics of Cylinders and Cube (Grain Elevators), 1905 | Gelatin silver print. 1946. Credit stamp and title in ink on the verso | $3,680 | Christie's | Oct 1998 |
| 9 | Dream of Dead Desire, 1954 | Ferrotyped silver print | $3,600 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2006 |
| 10 | A Vision of Dead Desire, 1979 | Cartes-de-visite | $3,500 | Phillips | Oct 2018 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 100 | $1,530 |
| Other | 9 | $1,000 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 102 | $1,500 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 7 | $976 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 126 results from 18 houses · How we compute these figures
Clarence John Laughlin is an American artist with 194 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $1,456. 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 Clarence John Laughlin sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $2,200 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Clarence John Laughlin record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Clarence John Laughlin on OpeningBid →What is a Clarence John Laughlin work worth?
Across 122 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Clarence John Laughlin work is $1,456.
The median Clarence John Laughlin photograph sells for $1,489 across 115 lots.
The median Clarence John Laughlin print sells for $1,195 across 3 lots.
The median Clarence John Laughlin work on paper sells for $1,553 across 1 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Clarence John Laughlin photographs typically sell for $975–$2,151 (the middle half of 105 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 | $1,195 | $2,032 | — | 2026-10-15 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $1,553 | $1,553 | — | 2003-02-12 |
| Photography | 159 | $1,489†‡ | $12,500 | 72.3% | 2026-10-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $5,500 | $12,500 | — | 2024-10-31 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 105 | $975–$2,151†‡ | $1,500†‡ | $12,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $926–$2,318 | $976 | $4,993 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2011 | $12,500 |
| Photography | 2007 | $6,300 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $2,032 |
| Works on Paper | 2003 | $1,553 |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $1,195 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Clarence John Laughlin worth?
Across 122 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Clarence John Laughlin work is $1,456. The median Clarence John Laughlin photograph sells for $1,489 across 115 lots. The median Clarence John Laughlin print sells for $1,195 across 3 lots. The median Clarence John Laughlin work on paper sells for $1,553 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Clarence John Laughlin photographs typically sell for $975–$2,151 (the middle half of 105 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 Clarence John Laughlin photograph?
Based on 115 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Clarence John Laughlin photograph is $1,489. 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 Clarence John Laughlin's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Clarence John Laughlin photograph is $12,500.
What is the average price of a small Clarence John Laughlin photograph?
Based on 105 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Clarence John Laughlin photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,500, 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 Clarence John Laughlin's auction record?
Clarence John Laughlin's auction record is $12,500, set in 2011.
See the full Clarence John Laughlin record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Clarence John Laughlin on OpeningBid →