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

# Ettore Sottsass (1917–2007)

## What is Ettore Sottsass’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 2,599 auction results for Ettore Sottsass at 79 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,775 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,515–$9,863, n=455). The auction record is $856,800 for Menhir della Vita (2023, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Menhir della Vita, 1917 | Ceramics | $856,800 | Christie's | Jun 2023 |
| 2 | Elledue, 1970 | Structure en résine teintée grise renforcée de fibre de verre, têtes de lit éclairantes en métal chromé, réflecteurs en perspex opalin | $193,978 | Artcurial | Oct 2018 |
| 3 | LIBRARY, 1965 | Lacquered wood | $119,165 | Christie's | May 2007 |
| 4 | FURNITURE N.24, 1917 | Bibliothèque en bois teinté, noyer, érable, les étagères en aluminium anodisé | $104,410 | Christie's | May 2008 |
| 5 | Commode Column, 1965 | Painted laminated wood, solid walnut, and leather | $88,900 | Sotheby's | Jun 2023 |
| 6 | Casablanca | Plastic-laminated wood | $87,034 | Sotheby's | Nov 2016 |
| 7 | Nefertiti console-desk, 1967 | Structure en bois recouvert de mélaminé vert et blanc | $79,083 | Artcurial | Oct 2018 |
| 8 | A ring, Ettore Sottsass *,, 1963 | 18 carat gold, coral | $76,138 | Dorotheum | Jan 2023 |
| 9 | Lava, 1959 | Ceramic | $76,118 | Artcurial | May 2014 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Menta totem, 1965 | Porcelain | $101,600 | Wright | Feb 2026 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 412 | $4,182 |
| Works on paper | 40 | $4,093 |
| Other | 1,767 | $3,328 |
| Photographs | 6 | $1,517 |
| Paintings | 7 | $1,063 |
| Prints | 30 | $588 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 435 | $10,625 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 543 | $3,759 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 987 | $2,032 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 2,599 results from 79 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Ettore Sottsass is an Italian artist with 3,814 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $3,125. 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 Ettore Sottsass sold in 2026 for $4,477, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**47 Ettore Sottsass works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Ettore Sottsass on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ettore-sottsass?ref=kg:ettore-sottsass) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Ettore Sottsass work worth?

Across 2,574 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ettore Sottsass work is $3,125.

The median Ettore Sottsass sculpture sells for $6,250 across 220 lots.

The median Ettore Sottsass print sells for $443 across 47 lots.

The median Ettore Sottsass work on paper sells for $789 across 36 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Ettore Sottsass sculptures typically sell for $2,474–$8,631 (the middle half of 98 sold lots).

Large (over 120 cm) Ettore Sottsass sculptures typically sell for $3,734–$17,473 (the middle half of 80 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 | 56 | $443†‡ | $20,662 | 83.9% | 2026-02-18 |
| Paintings | 15 | $6,600 | $57,130 | 86.7% | 2026-03-04 |
| Works on Paper | 42 | $789‡ | $34,434 | 85.7% | 2026-02-26 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 273 | $6,250†‡ | $104,410 | 80.6% | 2026-10-30 |
| Photography | 14 | $1,679‡ | $16,683 | 57.1% | 2026-10-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 130 | $44,164†‡ | $856,800 | — | 2026-07-02 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Ettore Sottsass's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (56 lots) median $443 with 83.9% sell-through. Paintings (15 lots) median $6,600, record $57,130. A typical Ettore Sottsass painting sells for around 15× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 130 lots) the median is $44,164.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $410–$890†‡ | $844†‡ | $6,796‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $2,280–$13,210 | $9,324 | $20,662 |

† 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) | 5 | $3,024–$4,375 | $3,900 | $35,692 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $707–$8,908‡ | $3,174‡ | $30,009 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $15,600–$17,500 | $15,985 | $19,579 |

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

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 25 | $1,200–$6,250 | $3,192 | $17,780 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 98 | $2,474–$8,631 | $5,812 | $75,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 80 | $3,734–$17,473‡ | $8,610‡ | $104,410 |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2008 | $104,410 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2011 | $75,000 |
| Paintings | 2008 | $57,130 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $47,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $34,434 |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $30,009 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $20,662 |
| Photography | 2025 | $16,683 |

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 Ettore Sottsass worth?

Across 2,574 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ettore Sottsass work is $3,125. The median Ettore Sottsass sculpture sells for $6,250 across 220 lots. The median Ettore Sottsass print sells for $443 across 47 lots. The median Ettore Sottsass work on paper sells for $789 across 36 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Ettore Sottsass sculptures typically sell for $2,474–$8,631 (the middle half of 98 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Ettore Sottsass sculptures typically sell for $3,734–$17,473 (the middle half of 80 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 Ettore Sottsass sculpture?

Based on 220 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ettore Sottsass sculpture is $6,250. 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 Ettore Sottsass's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ettore Sottsass sculpture is $104,410.

### What is the average price of a Ettore Sottsass print?

Based on 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ettore Sottsass print is $443. 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 Ettore Sottsass's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ettore Sottsass print is $20,662.

### What is the average price of a Ettore Sottsass work on paper?

Based on 36 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ettore Sottsass work on paper is $789. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Ettore Sottsass's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ettore Sottsass work on paper is $34,434.

### What is the average price of a medium Ettore Sottsass sculpture?

Based on 98 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ettore Sottsass sculpture (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,812, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is the average price of a large Ettore Sottsass sculpture?

Based on 80 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Ettore Sottsass sculpture (large (over 120 cm)) is $8,610, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Ettore Sottsass's auction record?

Ettore Sottsass's auction record is $856,800, set in 2023.

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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, “Ettore Sottsass auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ettore-sottsass (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.