Herbert Bayer (1900–1985)
What is Herbert Bayer’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 250 auction results for Herbert Bayer at 35 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $12,700 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,856–$26,770, n=27). The auction record is $181,000 for 'metamorphosis' (2007, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'metamorphosis' | — | $181,000 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |
| 2 | 'IN SEARCH OF TIMES PAST', 1959 | Ink | $162,500 | Sotheby's | Jul 2020 |
| 3 | Tensity in Universe, 1941 | Painting | $127,500 | Bonhams | Mar 2025 |
| 4 | Tensity in Universe, 1941, 1900 | Oil on canvas | $127,500 | Bonhams | Mar 2025 |
| 5 | Messages Through Atmosphere, 1942 | Oil paint | $63,500 | Phillips | Nov 2024 |
| 6 | Cover for Harper's Bazaar, 1943 | Gouache over photomontage on paper laid down on board | $56,250 | Christie's | Dec 2020 |
| 7 | Northerly, 1982 | Acrylic | $53,550 | Bonhams | May 2025 |
| 8 | Fantasielandschaft mit Auge, 1928 | Pencil | $52,500 | Christie's | Dec 2020 |
| 9 | Signs and Signals, 1939 | Watercolor | $39,600 | Wright | Mar 2006 |
| 10 | 10 Fotomontagen and 10 Fotoplastiken, 1929 | Gelatin silver prints | $35,312 | Bonhams | Apr 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 35 | $12,030 |
| Other | 55 | $6,000 |
| Photographs | 19 | $5,292 |
| Works on paper | 29 | $5,100 |
| Sculpture | 5 | $3,120 |
| Prints | 74 | $793 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 31 | $7,500 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 80 | $3,430 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 96 | $1,533 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 250 results from 35 houses · How we compute these figures
Herbert Bayer is an Austrian artist with 340 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $3,270. 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 Herbert Bayer sold in 2026 for $10,240, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Herbert Bayer work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Herbert Bayer free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Herbert Bayer record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Herbert Bayer on OpeningBid →What is a Herbert Bayer work worth?
Across 248 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Herbert Bayer work is $3,270.
The median Herbert Bayer print sells for $702 across 85 lots.
The median Herbert Bayer painting sells for $9,480 across 41 lots.
The median Herbert Bayer photograph sells for $5,173 across 29 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Herbert Bayer prints typically sell for $441–$1,314 (the middle half of 65 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Herbert Bayer photographs typically sell for $2,137–$11,870 (the middle half of 28 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 | 103 | $702†‡ | $21,250 | 82.5% | 2026-10-08 |
| Paintings | 51 | $9,480† | $127,500 | 80.4% | 2026-10-09 |
| Works on Paper | 27 | $5,120†‡ | $35,000 | — | 2025-12-04 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 5 | $3,120 | $9,400 | — | 2022-03-29 |
| Photography | 49 | $5,173‡ | $56,250 | 59.2% | 2026-06-05 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 14 | $53,025‡ | $181,000 | — | 2025-05-15 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Herbert Bayer's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (103 lots) median $702 with 82.5% sell-through. Paintings (51 lots) median $9,480, record $127,500. A typical Herbert Bayer painting sells for around 14× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 14 lots) the median is $53,025.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 16 | $431–$1,036‡ | $684‡ | $6,875 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 65 | $441–$1,314†‡ | $702†‡ | $21,250 |
† 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) | 8 | $3,500–$6,518† | $3,888† | $12,030 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 25 | $4,063–$22,680† | $12,250† | $63,500 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 8 | $8,003–$21,048 | $12,321 | $127,500 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 19 | $1,740–$9,688‡ | $5,100‡ | $35,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $4,406–$15,160† | $5,500† | $31,498 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 28 | $2,137–$11,870‡ | $5,106‡ | $56,250 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2025 | $127,500 |
| Paintings | 2024 | $63,500 |
| Photography | 2020 | $56,250 |
| Photography | 2021 | $35,312 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $35,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $31,498 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $21,250 |
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $16,800 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Herbert Bayer worth?
Across 248 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Herbert Bayer work is $3,270. The median Herbert Bayer print sells for $702 across 85 lots. The median Herbert Bayer painting sells for $9,480 across 41 lots. The median Herbert Bayer photograph sells for $5,173 across 29 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Herbert Bayer prints typically sell for $441–$1,314 (the middle half of 65 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Herbert Bayer photographs typically sell for $2,137–$11,870 (the middle half of 28 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 Herbert Bayer print?
Based on 85 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Herbert Bayer print is $702. 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 Herbert Bayer's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Herbert Bayer print is $21,250.
What is the average price of a Herbert Bayer painting?
Based on 41 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Herbert Bayer painting is $9,480. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Herbert Bayer's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Herbert Bayer painting is $127,500.
What is the average price of a Herbert Bayer photograph?
Based on 29 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Herbert Bayer photograph is $5,173. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Herbert Bayer's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Herbert Bayer photograph is $56,250.
What is the average price of a medium Herbert Bayer print?
Based on 65 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Herbert Bayer print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $702, 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 small Herbert Bayer photograph?
Based on 28 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Herbert Bayer photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,106, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Herbert Bayer's auction record?
Herbert Bayer's auction record is $181,000, set in 2007.
See the full Herbert Bayer record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Herbert Bayer on OpeningBid →