> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-cage · updated 2026-11-02

# John Cage (1912–1992)

## What is John Cage’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 153 auction results for John Cage at 32 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,560 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,176–$4,272, n=23). The auction record is $187,926 for The First Meeting of the Satie Society (2011, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The First Meeting of the Satie Society, 1992 | Stainless steel valise embossed with the words of Erik Satie, with shattered glass containing an introduction and seven artist books | $187,926 | Christie's | Mar 2011 |
| 2 | Wild Edible Drawings, 1990 | Handmade paper, in twelve parts | $63,000 | Christie's | Sep 2022 |
| 3 | Where R = Ryoanji (9 R)/6, 1983 | Bleistiftzeichnung | $54,018 | Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern | Jun 2018 |
| 4 | River Rocks and Smoke, 4/13/90, #13, 1990 | Watercolor and smoke ash on paper | $48,393 | Christie's | Mar 2011 |
| 5 | Where R=Ryoanji (13R/14), 1990 | Pencil on thin wove paper | $42,834 | Koller Auktionen | Dec 2021 |
| 6 | Where R = Ryoanji 12R/2, 1984 | Graphite | $37,800 | Sotheby's | May 2021 |
| 7 | Untitled (from the New River Watercolour Series IV), 1988 | Watercolour on paper | $24,442 | Christie's | Oct 2010 |
| 8 | R²,/12 (Where R = Ryoanji), 1983 | Pencil drawing on handmade Japan laid paper | $20,810 | Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern | Sep 2024 |
| 9 | Variations I (My Realization for Piano), 1958 | Pencil drawings on glassine | $19,323 | Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen Bern | Sep 2024 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Extended Lullaby, 1992 | Acrylic paint | $40,320 | Rago Arts | May 2024 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 12 | $10,089 |
| Works on paper | 29 | $8,280 |
| Prints | 54 | $3,390 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $18,750 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 54 | $4,072 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 36 | $2,496 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 153 results from 32 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


John Cage is an American artist with 183 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $2,794. 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 John Cage sold in 2026 for $4,480, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a John Cage work worth?

Across 151 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Cage work is $2,794.

The median John Cage print sells for $2,578 across 89 lots.

The median John Cage work on paper sells for $8,750 across 32 lots.

The median John Cage photograph sells for $1,280 across 3 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) John Cage prints typically sell for $1,550–$4,500 (the middle half of 73 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) John Cage work on papers typically sell for $3,471–$18,952 (the middle half of 22 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 | 102 | $2,578†‡ | $187,926 | 87.3% | 2026-01-25 |
| Paintings | 1 | $40,320 | $40,320 | — | 2024-05-22 |
| Works on Paper | 34 | $8,750‡ | $63,000 | 94.1% | 2026-02-27 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $2,322 | $2,322 | — | 2025-10-21 |
| Photography | 6 | $1,280 | $1,569 | 50% | 2025-09-10 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $45,614‡ | $187,926 | — | 2024-05-22 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

John Cage's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (102 lots) median $2,578 with 87.3% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $40,320, record $40,320. A typical John Cage painting sells for around 16× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 8 lots) the median is $45,614.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $1,769–$4,026†‡ | $3,120†‡ | $35,082‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 73 | $1,550–$4,500†‡ | $2,512†‡ | $187,926 |

† 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) | 22 | $3,471–$18,952‡ | $6,439‡ | $63,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $8,625–$16,829‡ | $13,038‡ | $24,442 |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2011 | $187,926 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $63,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $54,018 |
| Paintings | 2024 | $40,320 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $35,082‡ |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2025 | $2,322 |
| Photography | 2025 | $1,569 |
| Photography | 2025 | $1,280 |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

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 John Cage worth?

Across 151 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Cage work is $2,794. The median John Cage print sells for $2,578 across 89 lots. The median John Cage work on paper sells for $8,750 across 32 lots. The median John Cage photograph sells for $1,280 across 3 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) John Cage prints typically sell for $1,550–$4,500 (the middle half of 73 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) John Cage work on papers typically sell for $3,471–$18,952 (the middle half of 22 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 John Cage print?

Based on 89 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Cage print is $2,578. 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 John Cage's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Cage print is $187,926.

### What is the average price of a John Cage work on paper?

Based on 32 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Cage work on paper is $8,750. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is John Cage's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Cage work on paper is $63,000.

### What is the average price of a medium John Cage print?

Based on 73 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium John Cage print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $2,512, 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 John Cage work on paper?

Based on 22 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John Cage work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $6,439, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is John Cage's auction record?

John Cage's auction record is $187,926, set in 2011.

---

Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “John Cage auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-cage (updated 2026-11-02).

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.