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

# Donald Deskey (1894–1989)

## What is Donald Deskey’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 161 auction results for Donald Deskey at 15 houses since 2001. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,432 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,122–$6,438, n=27). The auction record is $66,000 for dining suite (2005, Wright). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | dining suite, 1936 | Ebony | $66,000 | Wright | Dec 2005 |
| 2 | table lamp, 1930 | Chrome | $50,400 | Wright | Dec 2007 |
| 3 | Rare lamp, 1927 | Enamel | $47,500 | Rago Arts | Jan 2019 |
| 4 | table lamp, 1928 | Table lamp | $44,840 | Wright | Jun 2004 |
| 5 | Armchair from the Men's Smoking Room, Radio City Music Hall | Rosewood, ebonized wood and leather upholstery | $43,750 | Sotheby's | Dec 2012 |
| 6 | chandelier from the Brown Palace Hotel, 1936 | Aluminum | $36,000 | Wright | Mar 2007 |
| 7 | Cocktail Table, 1928 | Chromium-plated steel and Vitrolite | $33,750 | Sotheby's | Dec 2009 |
| 8 | table, 1928 | Aluminum | $31,860 | Wright | Mar 2004 |
| 9 | table, 1928 | Aluminum | $31,860 | Wright | Mar 2004 |
| 10 | Pair of Lamps from the Roxy Apartment at Radio City Music Hall, New York | Chromium-plated metal and glass | $31,250 | Sotheby's | Jun 2013 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 7 | $20,480 |
| Other | 142 | $3,600 |
| Paintings | 5 | $1,000 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 32 | $5,376 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 36 | $3,600 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 63 | $2,540 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 161 results from 15 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Donald Deskey is an American artist with 235 auction lots recorded since 2001, median price $3,516. 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 Donald Deskey sold in 2026 for $20,480, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Donald Deskey work worth?

Across 158 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Donald Deskey work is $3,516.

The median Donald Deskey sculpture sells for $5,313 across 25 lots.

The median Donald Deskey work on paper sells for $20,480 across 5 lots.

The median Donald Deskey painting sells for $976 across 4 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 | 4 | $976 | $2,112 | — | 2025-12-10 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $20,480 | $28,125 | 83.3% | 2026-08-05 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 33 | $5,313 | $36,000 | 75.8% | 2026-08-05 |
| Photography | 1 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 9 | $43,750 | $66,000 | — | 2019-01-20 |

## Price by size

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $5,313–$19,200 | $5,376 | $28,800 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 15 | $1,898–$24,375 | $4,480 | $36,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $3,000–$9,440 | $3,406 | $16,200 |

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2007 | $36,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2004 | $31,860 |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $28,125 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $20,480 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $2,112 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $1,000 |

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 Donald Deskey worth?

Across 158 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Donald Deskey work is $3,516. The median Donald Deskey sculpture sells for $5,313 across 25 lots. The median Donald Deskey work on paper sells for $20,480 across 5 lots. The median Donald Deskey painting sells for $976 across 4 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 Donald Deskey sculpture?

Based on 25 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Donald Deskey sculpture is $5,313.

### What is Donald Deskey's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Donald Deskey sculpture is $36,000.

### What is the average price of a medium Donald Deskey sculpture?

Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Donald Deskey sculpture (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,480, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Donald Deskey's auction record?

Donald Deskey's auction record is $66,000, set in 2005.

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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, “Donald Deskey auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/donald-deskey (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.