Jean Tinguely (1925–1991)
What is Jean Tinguely’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,417 auction results for Jean Tinguely at 73 houses since 1990. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,841 including buyer’s premium (middle half $640–$15,240, n=49). The auction record is $2,092,795 for Métamatic No. 7 (2008, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Métamatic No. 7 | Painted metal, wires, steel, rubber belts, electric motor and paper | $2,092,795 | Sotheby's | Jul 2008 |
| 2 | RELIEF N°VII, FORME BLANCHE EN MOUVEMENT, 1956 | Métal et bois peint, moteur électrique | $522,416 | Artcurial | Dec 2013 |
| 3 | Ovale stabilisé, 1959 | White elements on a deep black wooden panel, connected and driven from the reverse by wooden or metal wheels | $497,097 | Sotheby's | Dec 2020 |
| 4 | Meta-Malevich | Éléments en métal peints sur boîte en bois peinte avec poulies en bois, ceinture en caoutchouc, métal et moteur éléctrique | $467,636 | Sotheby's | Jun 2016 |
| 5 | Meta-Malevich | Painted metal elements on painted wooden box with wooden pulleys, rubber belt, metal fixtures and electric motor inside | $467,601 | Sotheby's | Jul 2008 |
| 6 | EOS XII, 1967 | Iron | $438,077 | Christie's | Jun 2024 |
| 7 | Cowboy in the Rain | Iron, wheels, rubber tube and motor | $433,000 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| 8 | Eclosion I | Panneau en bois peint en noir avec sept éléments métalliques de formes différentes peintes en blanc, poulies en bois, ceinture en caoutchouc, fixations métalliques et moteur électrique | $418,850 | Sotheby's | May 2012 |
| 9 | Narva, 1961 | Cast iron | $345,501 | Christie's | Feb 2006 |
| 10 | Motor-cocktail au 6 | Fer, métal, bois, plastique et trois moteurs électriques ; peints en noir | $303,005 | Sotheby's | May 2008 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 73 | $59,456 |
| Other | 124 | $6,960 |
| Works on paper | 131 | $5,609 |
| Paintings | 12 | $5,477 |
| Prints | 127 | $1,121 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 25 | $66,231 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 204 | $4,607 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 174 | $2,760 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,417 results from 73 houses · How we compute these figures
Jean Tinguely is a Swiss artist with 1,778 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $1,056. 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 Jean Tinguely sold in 2026 for $1,611, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
4 Jean Tinguely works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Jean Tinguely free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Jean Tinguely record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jean Tinguely on OpeningBid →What is a Jean Tinguely work worth?
Across 1,411 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean Tinguely work is $1,056.
The median Jean Tinguely print sells for $609 across 713 lots.
The median Jean Tinguely work on paper sells for $3,316 across 376 lots.
The median Jean Tinguely sculpture sells for $61,208 across 78 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Jean Tinguely prints typically sell for $294–$1,008 (the middle half of 451 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Jean Tinguely work on papers typically sell for $1,055–$5,643 (the middle half of 273 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 | 823 | $609†‡ | $94,041‡ | 86.6% | 2026-10-06 |
| Paintings | 11 | $11,644†‡ | $187,974 | — | 2026-03-11 |
| Works on Paper | 484 | $3,316†‡ | $45,384† | 77.7% | 2026-09-12 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 89 | $61,208†‡ | $522,416 | 87.6% | 2026-06-25 |
| Photography | 6 | $653†‡ | $9,068 | 50% | 2022-11-03 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 70 | $108,463†‡ | $2.1M | — | 2025-12-05 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Jean Tinguely's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (823 lots) median $609 with 86.6% sell-through. Paintings (11 lots) median $11,644, record $187,974. A typical Jean Tinguely painting sells for around 19× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 70 lots) the median is $108,463.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 222 | $433–$1,058†‡ | $666†‡ | $15,487 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 451 | $294–$1,008†‡ | $553†‡ | $17,643† |
| large (over 120 cm) | 14 | $164–$2,555†‡ | $560†‡ | $94,041‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $13,346–$135,230†‡ | $25,675†‡ | $187,974 |
† 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) | 273 | $1,055–$5,643†‡ | $3,048†‡ | $40,809 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 76 | $2,709–$15,236†‡ | $7,921†‡ | $45,384† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $7,154–$35,385† | $13,515† | $467,636 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 29 | $36,581–$87,038†‡ | $52,101†‡ | $497,097 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 18 | $66,634–$171,481†‡ | $93,284†‡ | $438,077 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2013 | $522,416 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2020 | $497,097 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $187,974 |
| Paintings | 2005 | $170,569 |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $94,041‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $45,384† |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $40,809 |
| Prints & Editions | 2009 | $22,461‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 Jean Tinguely worth?
Across 1,411 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Jean Tinguely work is $1,056. The median Jean Tinguely print sells for $609 across 713 lots. The median Jean Tinguely work on paper sells for $3,316 across 376 lots. The median Jean Tinguely sculpture sells for $61,208 across 78 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Jean Tinguely prints typically sell for $294–$1,008 (the middle half of 451 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Jean Tinguely work on papers typically sell for $1,055–$5,643 (the middle half of 273 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 Jean Tinguely print?
Based on 713 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean Tinguely print is $609. 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 Jean Tinguely's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean Tinguely print is $94,041. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a Jean Tinguely work on paper?
Based on 376 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean Tinguely work on paper is $3,316. 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 Jean Tinguely's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean Tinguely work on paper is $45,384. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $45,384 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a Jean Tinguely sculpture?
Based on 78 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Jean Tinguely sculpture is $61,208. 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 Jean Tinguely's most expensive sculpture?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Jean Tinguely sculpture is $522,416.
What is the average price of a medium Jean Tinguely print?
Based on 451 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Jean Tinguely print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $553, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. 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 small Jean Tinguely work on paper?
Based on 273 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Jean Tinguely work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,048, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. 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 Jean Tinguely's auction record?
Jean Tinguely's auction record is $2,092,795, set in 2008.
See the full Jean Tinguely record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Jean Tinguely on OpeningBid →