James Smetham (1821–1889)
James Smetham is a British (modern) artist with 14 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $2,529. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.
A work by James Smetham sold in 2025 for $8,197, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full James Smetham record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Smetham on OpeningBid →What is a James Smetham work worth?
Across 9 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Smetham work is $2,529.
The median James Smetham painting sells for $2,529 across 7 lots.
The median James Smetham work on paper sells for $1,985 across 3 lots.
Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 9 | $2,529† | $636,498 | 77.8% | 2021-03-23 |
| Works on Paper | 5 | $1,985† | $18,034 | 60% | 2023-07-25 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $2,151–$10,997† | $2,908† | $636,498 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2017 | $636,498 |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $18,034 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $10,997 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $1,985 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a James Smetham worth?
Across 9 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a James Smetham work is $2,529. The median James Smetham painting sells for $2,529 across 7 lots. The median James Smetham work on paper sells for $1,985 across 3 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is James Smetham's auction record?
James Smetham's auction record is $636,498, set in 2017.
See the full James Smetham record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View James Smetham on OpeningBid →