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

# James Castle (1899–1977)

## What is James Castle’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 110 auction results for James Castle at 11 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $8,820 including buyer’s premium (middle half $5,481–$17,780, n=27). The auction record is $47,500 for Untitled Construction (Large Blue Jacket) (2019, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untitled Construction (Large Blue Jacket), 1899 | Watercolor, crayon and string on pieced and applied repurposed paper | $47,500 | Christie's | Jan 2019 |
| 2 | Untitled Construction, 1899 | Found paper and card, string, thread and soot and spit | $43,750 | Christie's | Sep 2017 |
| 3 | UNTITLED (ABSTRACT TITLE BOOK), 1899 | Book | $31,500 | Christie's | Jan 2025 |
| 4 | Untitled (Coat), 1899 | Soot, spit, string and blue pigment on repurposed card | $25,000 | Christie's | Feb 2022 |
| 5 | Untitled (Interior Scene, Double-Sided), 1899 | Soot and spit on repurposed folder | $24,130 | Christie's | Feb 2026 |
| 6 | Untitled (Post Office), 1899 | Soot and spit on repurposed Kellogg's card | $24,130 | Christie's | Feb 2026 |
| 7 | Untitled (Exterior Barn), 1899 | Soot and spit on found paper | $22,860 | Christie's | Feb 2026 |
| 8 | Untitled (Bedroom), 1899 | Soot and spit on repurposed folder | $21,590 | Christie's | Feb 2026 |
| 9 | Untitled (Interior with Tables, Chairs and Desk) | Soot and spit on cardboard | $20,739 | Christie's | Jan 2004 |
| 10 | Untitled (Patterned Landscape with House and Three Figures) | Soot and spit, ink and colored washes on found paper | $19,200 | Christie's | Oct 2026 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 55 | $7,560 |
| Other | 44 | $6,875 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 100 | $7,050 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 110 results from 11 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


James Castle is an American artist with 117 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $6,875. 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 James Castle sold in 2026 for $19,200, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a James Castle work worth?

Across 107 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Castle work is $6,875.

The median James Castle work on paper sells for $7,500 across 63 lots.

The median James Castle painting sells for $4,250 across 5 lots.

The median James Castle print sells for $504 across 5 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) James Castle work on papers typically sell for $4,756–$10,392 (the middle half of 63 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 | 5 | $504 | $8,190 | — | 2023-01-23 |
| Paintings | 5 | $4,250† | $8,190 | — | 2025-01-22 |
| Works on Paper | 71 | $7,500 | $47,500 | 88.7% | 2026-10-01 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $28,250 | $47,500 | — | 2026-02-27 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

James Castle's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $504. Paintings (5 lots) median $4,250, record $8,190. A typical James Castle painting sells for around 8.4× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 6 lots) the median is $28,250.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $504–$3,528 | $504 | $8,190 |

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $3,250–$4,250† | $4,250† | $8,190 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 63 | $4,756–$10,392 | $7,500 | $47,500 |

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $47,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2017 | $43,750 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $8,190 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $8,190 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $4,250† |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $3,528 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 James Castle worth?

Across 107 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Castle work is $6,875. The median James Castle work on paper sells for $7,500 across 63 lots. The median James Castle painting sells for $4,250 across 5 lots. The median James Castle print sells for $504 across 5 lots. Small (under 50 cm) James Castle work on papers typically sell for $4,756–$10,392 (the middle half of 63 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 James Castle work on paper?

Based on 63 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Castle work on paper is $7,500.

### What is James Castle's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a James Castle work on paper is $47,500.

### What is the average price of a small James Castle work on paper?

Based on 63 sold lots, the median auction price of a small James Castle work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $7,500, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is James Castle's auction record?

James Castle's auction record is $47,500, set in 2019.

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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, “James Castle auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/james-castle (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.