James Kay (1858–1942)
What is James Kay’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 48 auction results for James Kay at 10 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,958 including buyer’s premium (middle half $931–$4,901, n=17). The auction record is $9,070 for OLD STREET, ROUEN (2021, Lyon & Turnbull). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OLD STREET, ROUEN | Signed, oil on canvas | $9,070 | Lyon & Turnbull | Dec 2021 |
| 2 | Glasgow Harbour | Oil on canvas | $8,750 | Sotheby's | Jan 2010 |
| 3 | A CONTINENTAL STREET SCENE | Signed, oil on board | $7,413 | Lyon & Turnbull | Sep 2024 |
| 4 | SUNSET ON THE CLYDE | Signed, inscribed verso, oil on board | $7,280 | Lyon & Turnbull | Dec 2023 |
| 5 | SWEET SUMMERTIME - ELEGANT FIGURES OUTSIDE CENTRAL STATION, GLASGOW | <p>Signed, inscribed with title to contemporary label verso, oil on canvas</p> | $7,001 | Lyon & Turnbull | Dec 2025 |
| 6 | A BUSY STREET SCENE, PARIS | <p>Signed, oil on board</p> | $6,408 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jun 2025 |
| 7 | LA MADELEINE AND THE RUE ROYALE, PARIS | Signed, oil on board | $5,792 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jun 2024 |
| 8 | THE FLOWER MARKET | Signed, oil on canvas | $5,128 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jun 2026 |
| 9 | TUILERIES GARDENS, PARIS | Signed, oil on panel | $5,128 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jun 2026 |
| 10 | James Kay (Scottish 1858-1942) Mouth of the Kelvin Signed and dated '97, also with dedication to | Oil on canvas | $4,966 | Woolley and Wallis | Nov 2017 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 30 | $3,228 |
| Works on paper | 12 | $588 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 20 | $2,951 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 21 | $679 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 48 results from 10 houses · How we compute these figures
James Kay is a British (modern) artist with 53 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $2,566. 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 Kay sold in 2026 for $5,128, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full James Kay record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Kay on OpeningBid →What is a James Kay work worth?
Across 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Kay work is $2,566.
The median James Kay painting sells for $2,951 across 34 lots.
The median James Kay work on paper sells for $588 across 10 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) James Kay paintings typically sell for $1,575–$3,628 (the middle half of 21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 37 | $2,951†‡ | $9,070 | 91.9% | 2026-06-18 |
| Works on Paper | 12 | $588‡ | $3,177 | 83.3% | 2026-02-11 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $8,750 | $9,070 | — | 2024-09-26 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $912–$5,128† | $2,922† | $7,280 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 21 | $1,575–$3,628‡ | $2,919‡ | $9,070 |
† 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) | 10 | $477–$1,373‡ | $588‡ | $3,177 |
‡ 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 | 2021 | $9,070 |
| Paintings | 2010 | $8,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2000 | $3,177 |
| Works on Paper | 2009 | $2,888‡ |
‡ 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 James Kay worth?
Across 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Kay work is $2,566. The median James Kay painting sells for $2,951 across 34 lots. The median James Kay work on paper sells for $588 across 10 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) James Kay paintings typically sell for $1,575–$3,628 (the middle half of 21 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 Kay painting?
Based on 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Kay painting is $2,951. 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 James Kay's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a James Kay painting is $9,070.
What is the average price of a James Kay work on paper?
Based on 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a James Kay work on paper is $588. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is James Kay's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a James Kay work on paper is $3,177.
What is the average price of a medium James Kay painting?
Based on 21 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium James Kay painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,919, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a small James Kay painting?
Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a small James Kay painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,922, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is James Kay's auction record?
James Kay's auction record is $9,070, set in 2021.
See the full James Kay record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Kay on OpeningBid →