George Nakashima (1905–1990)
What is George Nakashima’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 3,218 auction results for George Nakashima at 36 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $21,590 including buyer’s premium (middle half $11,685–$33,020, n=531). The auction record is $403,200 for Minguren II (2022, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minguren II, 1982 | Rosewood | $403,200 | Sotheby's | Jun 2022 |
| 2 | Conoid dining table, 1966 | Oak | $355,600 | Wright | Oct 2025 |
| 3 | George Nakashima (1905-1990), 1955 | Noyer et textile | $340,830 | PIASA | Jun 2022 |
| 4 | A Monumental "Conoid" Dining Table | Highly figured walnut top with two bark pockets and thirteen scattered East Indian rosewood keys | $266,500 | Sotheby's | Jun 2008 |
| 5 | An Important Coffee Table, 1983 | Walnut | $254,000 | Sotheby's | Dec 2023 |
| 6 | Conoid Dining Table, 1969 | Walnut | $250,312 | Bonhams | Dec 2021 |
| 7 | A Superb "Minguren I" Dining Table | — | $240,000 | Sotheby's | Jun 2007 |
| 8 | The Important "Conoid" Bench from the Japanese House, Pocantico Hills, New York | — | $240,000 | Sotheby's | Jun 2007 |
| 9 | "Odakyu" Cabinet from the International Paper Headquarters, New York | — | $234,000 | Sotheby's | Jun 2007 |
| 10 | Minguren II, 1905 | George Nakashima (1905-1990) | $216,492 | PIASA | Jul 2026 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 28 | $29,813 |
| Works on paper | 16 | $23,332 |
| Sculpture | 7 | $21,600 |
| Other | 3,090 | $16,223 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 1,503 | $21,250 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 1,357 | $11,250 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 72 | $5,987 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 3,218 results from 36 houses · How we compute these figures
George Nakashima is an American artist with 3,606 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $16,250. 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 George Nakashima sold in 2026 for $20,800, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
12 George Nakashima works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow George Nakashima free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full George Nakashima record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View George Nakashima on OpeningBid →What is a George Nakashima work worth?
Across 3,211 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a George Nakashima work is $16,250.
The median George Nakashima work on paper sells for $31,200 across 17 lots.
The median George Nakashima sculpture sells for $16,320 across 16 lots.
The median George Nakashima photograph sells for $14,110 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2 | $5,232 | $5,463 | — | 2012-10-07 |
| Paintings | 2 | $18,810 | $22,500 | — | 2022-12-09 |
| Works on Paper | 21 | $31,200 | $87,812 | 81% | 2026-07-02 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 18 | $16,320† | $35,000 | 88.9% | 2026-09-16 |
| Photography | 4 | $14,110 | $35,249 | — | 2024-06-14 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 161 | $87,500‡ | $403,200 | — | 2026-09-16 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
George Nakashima's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $5,232. Paintings (2 lots) median $18,810, record $22,500. A typical George Nakashima painting sells for around 3.6× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 161 lots) the median is $87,500.
Price by size
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $11,962–$39,178 | $14,462 | $87,812 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $29,100–$46,725 | $36,528 | $76,500 |
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $12,898–$33,372 | $25,795 | $35,000 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $9,354–$21,985 | $16,320 | $30,720 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $87,812 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $76,500 |
| Photography | 2016 | $35,249 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $35,000 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $34,496 |
| Paintings | 2018 | $22,500 |
| Photography | 2021 | $16,250 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $15,120 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a George Nakashima worth?
Across 3,211 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a George Nakashima work is $16,250. The median George Nakashima work on paper sells for $31,200 across 17 lots. The median George Nakashima sculpture sells for $16,320 across 16 lots. The median George Nakashima photograph sells for $14,110 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 George Nakashima work on paper?
Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a George Nakashima work on paper is $31,200.
What is George Nakashima's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a George Nakashima work on paper is $87,812.
What is the average price of a George Nakashima sculpture?
Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a George Nakashima sculpture is $16,320. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is George Nakashima's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a George Nakashima sculpture is $35,000.
What is George Nakashima's auction record?
George Nakashima's auction record is $403,200, set in 2022.
See the full George Nakashima record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View George Nakashima on OpeningBid →