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

# John Tenniel (1820–1914)

John Tenniel is a British artist with 19 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $404. 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 Tenniel sold in 2026 for $498, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a John Tenniel work worth?

Across 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Tenniel work is $404.

The median John Tenniel work on paper sells for $405 across 14 lots.

The median John Tenniel print sells for $357 across 2 lots.

The median John Tenniel painting sells for $10,971 across 2 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 | 4 | $357† | $498 | 50% | 2026-02-18 |
| Paintings | 2 | $10,971‡ | $18,898‡ | — | 2024-01-31 |
| Works on Paper | 16 | $405†‡ | $5,917† | 87.5% | 2026-02-11 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

John Tenniel's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (4 lots) median $357 with 50% sell-through. Paintings (2 lots) median $10,971, record $18,898. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical John Tenniel painting sells for around 31× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $274–$668†‡ | $405†‡ | $5,917† |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2011 | $18,898‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $5,917† |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $4,182 |
| Paintings | 2024 | $3,044‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $498 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $215† |

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

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a John Tenniel worth?

Across 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a John Tenniel work is $404. The median John Tenniel work on paper sells for $405 across 14 lots. The median John Tenniel print sells for $357 across 2 lots. The median John Tenniel painting sells for $10,971 across 2 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 Tenniel work on paper?

Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a John Tenniel work on paper is $405. 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 Tenniel's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a John Tenniel work on paper is $5,917. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $5,917 (buyer's premium not included).

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

Based on 14 sold lots, the median auction price of a small John Tenniel work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $405, 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 John Tenniel's auction record?

John Tenniel's auction record is $18,898, set in 2011. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

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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, “John Tenniel auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/john-tenniel (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.