Harriet Whitney Frishmuth (1880–1980)
What is Harriet Whitney Frishmuth’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 152 auction results for Harriet Whitney Frishmuth at 17 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $9,375 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,000–$15,120, n=9). The auction record is $362,500 for Humoresque (2010, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Humoresque, 1880 | Bronze with brownish-green patina | $362,500 | Christie's | May 2010 |
| 2 | Joy of the Waters | Bronze, verdigris patina | $265,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 3 | Crest of the Wave, 1926 | Bronze with greenish-brown patina | $247,500 | Christie's | Nov 2016 |
| 4 | Joy of the Waters, 1880 | Bronze with verdigris patina | $240,000 | Christie's | Dec 2005 |
| 5 | Play Days, 1880 | Bronze | $185,000 | Christie's | May 2015 |
| 6 | Humoresque, 1924 | Bronze | $177,800 | Sotheby's | Jan 2024 |
| 7 | Joy of the Waters, 1880 | Bronze | $175,500 | Christie's | Dec 2003 |
| 8 | Joy of the Waters, 1890 | Bronze with verdigris patina | $175,500 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 9 | Playdays, 1880 | Bronze with verdigris patina | $140,500 | Christie's | May 2009 |
| 10 | Joy of the Waters (Joie de l'eau), 1917 | Bronze with verdigris patina | $137,500 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 5 | $20,000 |
| Sculpture | 127 | $14,220 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $140,500 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 32 | $21,250 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 66 | $10,600 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 152 results from 17 houses · How we compute these figures
Harriet Whitney Frishmuth is an American artist with 165 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $13,875. 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 Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sold in 2026 for $19,200, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Harriet Whitney Frishmuth record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Harriet Whitney Frishmuth on OpeningBid →What is a Harriet Whitney Frishmuth work worth?
Across 144 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Harriet Whitney Frishmuth work is $13,875.
The median Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculpture sells for $12,255 across 141 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculptures typically sell for $6,325–$18,862 (the middle half of 74 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculptures typically sell for $10,250–$31,775 (the middle half of 39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 153 | $12,255†‡ | $362,500 | 92.2% | 2026-05-28 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 13 | $175,500 | $362,500 | — | 2024-01-19 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 74 | $6,325–$18,862†‡ | $10,201†‡ | $62,140 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 39 | $10,250–$31,775†‡ | $18,900†‡ | $362,500 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $93,600–$177,875‡ | $139,000‡ | $247,500 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2010 | $362,500 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2016 | $247,500 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Harriet Whitney Frishmuth worth?
Across 144 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Harriet Whitney Frishmuth work is $13,875. The median Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculpture sells for $12,255 across 141 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculptures typically sell for $6,325–$18,862 (the middle half of 74 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculptures typically sell for $10,250–$31,775 (the middle half of 39 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 Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculpture?
Based on 141 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculpture is $12,255. 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 Harriet Whitney Frishmuth's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculpture is $362,500.
What is the average price of a small Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculpture?
Based on 74 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculpture (small (under 50 cm)) is $10,201, 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 Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculpture?
Based on 39 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Harriet Whitney Frishmuth sculpture (medium (50–120 cm)) is $18,900, 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 Harriet Whitney Frishmuth's auction record?
Harriet Whitney Frishmuth's auction record is $362,500, set in 2010.
See the full Harriet Whitney Frishmuth record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Harriet Whitney Frishmuth on OpeningBid →