Humphrey Spender (1910–2005)
What is Humphrey Spender’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 60 auction results for Humphrey Spender at 12 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $709 including buyer’s premium (middle half $262–$710, n=5). The auction record is $9,583 for sails at rab (2008, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | sails at rab | — | $9,583 | Sotheby's | Mar 2008 |
| 2 | Arterial Man, 1940 | Oil on panel | $7,028 | Christie's | Mar 2018 |
| 3 | Arterial Man, 1940 | Oil paint | $6,788 | Christie's | Nov 2006 |
| 4 | Industrial Landscape with Pylons, 1910 | Oil paint | $6,788 | Christie's | Nov 2006 |
| 5 | Still Life with Apples and Poison Bottle | Oil on board | $6,788 | Christie's | Nov 2006 |
| 6 | canal, ulting, essex | Oil on board | $4,761 | Sotheby's | Jun 2007 |
| 7 | KITCHEN DRESSER, 1951 | Oil on board | $3,929 | Sworders | Feb 2016 |
| 8 | STILL LIFE OF A MARROWS AND A SET OF SCALES, 1951 | Oil on board | $3,742 | Sworders | Feb 2016 |
| 9 | knave of clubs | — | $3,571 | Sotheby's | Jun 2007 |
| 10 | INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE WITH PYLONS, 1938 | Oil on canvas | $3,153 | Lyon & Turnbull | Apr 2024 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 16 | $3,113 |
| Works on paper | 7 | $709 |
| Photographs | 14 | $467 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 16 | $2,646 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 24 | $620 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 60 results from 12 houses · How we compute these figures
Humphrey Spender is a British (modern) artist with 72 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $884. 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 Humphrey Spender sold in 2025 for a hammer price of $899 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Humphrey Spender record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Humphrey Spender on OpeningBid →What is a Humphrey Spender work worth?
Across 54 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Humphrey Spender work is $884.
The median Humphrey Spender painting sells for $2,400 across 24 lots.
The median Humphrey Spender work on paper sells for $654 across 13 lots.
The median Humphrey Spender photograph sells for $467 across 16 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 | 5 | $380† | $475† | 40% | 2024-07-14 |
| Paintings | 29 | $2,400†‡ | $7,028 | 82.8% | 2025-09-23 |
| Works on Paper | 22 | $654†‡ | $1,800‡ | 59.1% | 2026-06-20 |
| Photography | 17 | $467†‡ | $1,770 | 94.1% | 2026-10-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $6,788 | $9,583 | — | 2018-03-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Humphrey Spender's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $380 with 40% sell-through. Paintings (29 lots) median $2,400, record $7,028. A typical Humphrey Spender painting sells for around 6.3× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $6,788.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $959–$6,788†‡ | $3,742†‡ | $7,028 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $1,256–$3,110†‡ | $2,209†‡ | $6,788 |
† 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) | 11 | $371–$800†‡ | $654†‡ | $1,800‡ |
† 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) | 15 | $258–$687†‡ | $443†‡ | $1,770 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2018 | $7,028 |
| Paintings | 2006 | $6,788 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $1,800‡ |
| Photography | 2024 | $1,770 |
| Photography | 2023 | $1,582 |
| Works on Paper | 2004 | $1,509 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $475† |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $285 |
† 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. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Humphrey Spender worth?
Across 54 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Humphrey Spender work is $884. The median Humphrey Spender painting sells for $2,400 across 24 lots. The median Humphrey Spender work on paper sells for $654 across 13 lots. The median Humphrey Spender photograph sells for $467 across 16 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 Humphrey Spender painting?
Based on 24 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Humphrey Spender painting is $2,400. 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 Humphrey Spender's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Humphrey Spender painting is $7,028.
What is the average price of a Humphrey Spender work on paper?
Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Humphrey Spender work on paper is $654. 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 Humphrey Spender's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Humphrey Spender work on paper is $1,800. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a Humphrey Spender photograph?
Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Humphrey Spender photograph is $467. 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 Humphrey Spender's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Humphrey Spender photograph is $1,770.
What is the average price of a medium Humphrey Spender painting?
Based on 17 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Humphrey Spender painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,209, 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 Humphrey Spender photograph?
Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Humphrey Spender photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $443, 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 Humphrey Spender's auction record?
Humphrey Spender's auction record is $9,583, set in 2008.
See the full Humphrey Spender record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Humphrey Spender on OpeningBid →