> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/james-smetham · updated 2026-11-01

# 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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “James Smetham auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/james-smetham (updated 2026-11-01).

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.