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

# Hans Erni (1909–2015)

## What is Hans Erni’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,222 auction results for Hans Erni at 50 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $231 including buyer’s premium (middle half $191–$1,032, n=5). The auction record is $62,834 for Day and night (2023, Koller Auktionen). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Day and night, 1969 | Tempera on canvas | $62,834 | Koller Auktionen | Jun 2023 |
| 2 | Lecture de la fiancée (Lektüre der Braut), 1964 | Öl auf Leinwand | $49,459 | Ketterer Kunst | Dec 2007 |
| 3 | PEINTRE OBSERVÉ PAR SON MODÈLE, 1969 | Oil on canvas | $26,284 | Sotheby's | Jun 2020 |
| 4 | Couple dancing, 1967 | Tempera on canvas | $25,580 | Koller Auktionen | Jun 2017 |
| 5 | Paar (Couple), 1958 | Tempera on canvas | $17,433 | Koller Auktionen | Jun 2018 |
| 6 | Femme accroupie, bras levés, 1909 | Huile sur toile | $14,736 | Osenat | Mar 2023 |
| 7 | Mutter, Vater und Kind, 1953 | Tempera on canvas (sgraffito) | $13,744 | Koller Auktionen | Dec 2017 |
| 8 | Familie No 1, 1960 | Oil on canvas | $11,371 | Ketterer Kunst | Dec 2018 |
| 9 | Les amoureux II, 1967 | Tempera on canvas | $8,559 | Koller Auktionen | Dec 2023 |
| 10 | L'élan, 1965 | Oil on canvas | $7,940 | Tajan | Jun 2016 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 17 | $8,559 |
| Works on paper | 9 | $1,504 |
| Other | 7 | $840 |
| Prints | 26 | $191 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $11,371 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 38 | $720 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $393 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,222 results from 50 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Hans Erni is a Swiss artist with 1,579 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $353. 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 Hans Erni sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $1,584 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Hans Erni work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Hans Erni on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/hans-erni?ref=kg:hans-erni) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Hans Erni work worth?

Across 1,211 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Hans Erni work is $353.

The median Hans Erni print sells for $268 across 736 lots.

The median Hans Erni work on paper sells for $774 across 204 lots.

The median Hans Erni painting sells for $3,350 across 180 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Hans Erni prints typically sell for $199–$375 (the middle half of 502 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Hans Erni paintings typically sell for $1,486–$5,991 (the middle half of 137 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 | 975 | $268†‡ | $3,819† | 75.5% | 2026-06-17 |
| Paintings | 203 | $3,350†‡ | $62,834 | 88.7% | 2025-11-07 |
| Works on Paper | 254 | $774†‡ | $11,107‡ | 80.3% | 2026-03-27 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 9 | $3,718† | $47,253† | — | 2024-05-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 61 | $9,790†‡ | $62,834 | — | 2025-10-18 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Hans Erni's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (975 lots) median $268 with 75.5% sell-through. Paintings (203 lots) median $3,350, record $62,834. A typical Hans Erni painting sells for around 13× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 61 lots) the median is $9,790.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 132 | $156–$286†‡ | $195†‡ | $2,210 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 502 | $199–$375†‡ | $286†‡ | $3,819† |
| large (over 120 cm) | 39 | $105–$169† | $124† | $299† |

† 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) | 33 | $1,459–$4,809†‡ | $3,201†‡ | $7,956† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 137 | $1,486–$5,991†‡ | $3,031†‡ | $49,459 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $7,952–$24,274†‡ | $12,464†‡ | $62,834 |

† 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) | 119 | $325–$875†‡ | $498†‡ | $8,435‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 74 | $1,035–$2,214†‡ | $1,535†‡ | $11,107‡ |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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) | 6 | $383–$3,026† | $867† | $7,988† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2023 | $62,834 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $51,066‡ |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2016 | $47,253† |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $11,107‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $9,790‡ |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $7,988† |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $3,819† |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $2,210 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

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 Hans Erni worth?

Across 1,211 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Hans Erni work is $353. The median Hans Erni print sells for $268 across 736 lots. The median Hans Erni work on paper sells for $774 across 204 lots. The median Hans Erni painting sells for $3,350 across 180 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Hans Erni prints typically sell for $199–$375 (the middle half of 502 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Hans Erni paintings typically sell for $1,486–$5,991 (the middle half of 137 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 Hans Erni print?

Based on 736 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Hans Erni print is $268. 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 Hans Erni's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Hans Erni print is $3,819. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $3,819 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a Hans Erni work on paper?

Based on 204 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Hans Erni work on paper is $774. 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 Hans Erni's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Hans Erni work on paper is $11,107. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a Hans Erni painting?

Based on 180 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Hans Erni painting is $3,350. 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 Hans Erni's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Hans Erni painting is $62,834.

### What is the average price of a medium Hans Erni print?

Based on 502 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Hans Erni print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $286, 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 medium Hans Erni painting?

Based on 137 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Hans Erni painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,031, 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 Hans Erni's auction record?

Hans Erni's auction record is $62,834, 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, “Hans Erni auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/hans-erni (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.