> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ida-kar · updated 2026-11-03

# Ida Kar (1908–1974)

## What is Ida Kar’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 23 auction results for Ida Kar at 9 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $688 including buyer’s premium (middle half $440–$689, n=5). The auction record is $21,049 for Selected portraits (2004, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Selected portraits, 1954-1960 | Gelatin silver prints | $21,049 | Christie's | Nov 2004 |
| 2 | L'Etreinte (The Embrace) | Vintage silver print | $3,052 | Sotheby's | Jan 2018 |
| 3 | Portrait of Fidel Castro, 1964 | Silver print | $2,860 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 1992 |
| 4 | Portrait of Fidel Castro, 1964 | Portrait of Fidel Castro, 1964 Silver print | $2,600 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 1992 |
| 5 | Francis Newton Souza, 1961 | Photograph | $1,708 | Saffronart | Dec 2015 |
| 6 | Portrait of Brassai with his grafitti photographs | Portrait | $1,380 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2001 |
| 7 | Georges Braques, 1960 | Gelatin silver print | $1,362 | Christie's | Oct 2000 |
| 8 | PORTRAIT OF CRAIGIE AITCHISON, 1957 | Signed in Chinagraph pencil (lower right), vintage gelatin silver print | $819 | Lyon & Turnbull | Oct 2024 |
| 9 | Three Studies of Marcel Duchamp, circa 1950s | Pencil with Kar | $743 | Chiswick Auctions | May 2026 |
| 10 | Marie Laurencin, 1954 | Bromide print | $689 | Sworders | Mar 2026 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 11 | $1,362 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $781 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 23 results from 9 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Ida Kar is a British (modern) artist with 23 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $832. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Ida Kar sold in 2018 for $3,052, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Ida Kar work worth?

Across 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ida Kar work is $832.

The median Ida Kar photograph sells for $845 across 22 lots.

The median Ida Kar print sells for $743 across 1 lots.

Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 1 | $743 | $743 | — | 2026-05-21 |
| Photography | 22 | $845‡ | $21,049 | — | 2026-06-18 |

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

## Price by size

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $440–$1,708‡ | $819‡ | $21,049 |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2004 | $21,049 |
| Photography | 2018 | $3,052 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $743 |

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 Ida Kar worth?

Across 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ida Kar work is $832. The median Ida Kar photograph sells for $845 across 22 lots. The median Ida Kar print sells for $743 across 1 lots. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a Ida Kar photograph?

Based on 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ida Kar photograph is $845. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Ida Kar's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Ida Kar photograph is $21,049.

### What is the average price of a small Ida Kar photograph?

Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ida Kar photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $819, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Ida Kar's auction record?

Ida Kar's auction record is $21,049, set in 2004.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Ida Kar auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/ida-kar (updated 2026-11-03).

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.