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

# Karl Lagerfeld (1938–2019)

## What is Karl Lagerfeld’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 487 auction results for Karl Lagerfeld at 20 houses since 2006. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,627 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,898–$4,087, n=233). The auction record is $355,541 for Set of four scrapbooks with fashion sketches, circa 2000 | Ensemble de quatre carnets de croquis de mode, vers 2000 (2021, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Set of four scrapbooks with fashion sketches, circa 2000 | Ensemble de quatre carnets de croquis de mode, vers 2000, circa 2000 | Feutre et encre | $355,541 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 2 | Two sketchbooks of Karl Lagerfeld | Deux carnets de dessins de Karl Lagerfeld | Ink and felt-tip pen | $228,534 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 3 | Les trois muses Inès, Anna et Vicky, 1986 | Watercolor, ink and pen | $227,627 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 4 | Deux classeurs de travail personnels, 1954 | Conte | $213,400 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 5 | Portrait of Jacques de Bascher, Return from the Valley of emeralds, 1983 | Pencil | $185,684 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 6 | Jacques in Bel-Air, California, 1986 | Crayon gras et encre sur papier en-tête KL, encadré | $121,409 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 7 | Self-portrait, 1986 | Crayon gras, feutre, encre et aquarelle sur papier | $120,927 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 8 | Set of five drawings, circa 1950, 1949-1950 | Pen and ink | $99,868 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 9 | Femme à sa fenêtre, 1949 | Ink and watercolor on paper | $92,473 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 10 | Karl Lagerfeld (1933-2019), 1987 | Pastel | $92,473 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 46 | $4,671 |
| Prints | 40 | $3,334 |
| Works on paper | 325 | $3,211 |
| Photographs | 28 | $2,004 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 30 | $10,899 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 379 | $2,919 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 487 results from 20 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Karl Lagerfeld is a French artist with 502 auction lots recorded since 2005, median price $3,075. 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 Karl Lagerfeld sold in 2026 for $4,671, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**2 Karl Lagerfeld works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Karl Lagerfeld on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/karl-lagerfeld?ref=kg:karl-lagerfeld) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Karl Lagerfeld work worth?

Across 458 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Karl Lagerfeld work is $3,075.

The median Karl Lagerfeld work on paper sells for $3,211 across 372 lots.

The median Karl Lagerfeld photograph sells for $1,515 across 37 lots.

The median Karl Lagerfeld print sells for $1,392 across 16 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Karl Lagerfeld work on papers typically sell for $2,180–$5,386 (the middle half of 349 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Karl Lagerfeld photographs typically sell for $732–$3,040 (the middle half of 20 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 | 19 | $1,392†‡ | $213,400 | 84.2% | 2026-07-08 |
| Paintings | 12 | $19,955 | $227,627 | 91.7% | 2025-05-15 |
| Works on Paper | 376 | $3,211†‡ | $228,534 | — | 2026-07-11 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Photography | 45 | $1,515†‡ | $30,240 | 82.2% | 2026-10-14 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 24 | $73,236 | $355,540 | — | 2022-05-05 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Karl Lagerfeld's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (19 lots) median $1,392 with 84.2% sell-through. Paintings (12 lots) median $19,955, record $227,627. A typical Karl Lagerfeld painting sells for around 14× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 24 lots) the median is $73,236.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $452–$2,591‡ | $1,168‡ | $39,993 |

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

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $4,365–$15,278 | $10,601 | $24,943 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 349 | $2,180–$5,386†‡ | $2,919†‡ | $121,409 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $4,420–$59,990‡ | $36,976‡ | $92,473 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 20 | $732–$3,040‡ | $1,219‡ | $30,240 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $658–$8,348‡ | $1,758‡ | $21,202 |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $228,534 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $227,627 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $213,400 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $185,684 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $64,275 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $39,993 |
| Photography | 2023 | $30,240 |
| Photography | 2025 | $21,202 |

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 Karl Lagerfeld worth?

Across 458 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Karl Lagerfeld work is $3,075. The median Karl Lagerfeld work on paper sells for $3,211 across 372 lots. The median Karl Lagerfeld photograph sells for $1,515 across 37 lots. The median Karl Lagerfeld print sells for $1,392 across 16 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Karl Lagerfeld work on papers typically sell for $2,180–$5,386 (the middle half of 349 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Karl Lagerfeld photographs typically sell for $732–$3,040 (the middle half of 20 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 Karl Lagerfeld work on paper?

Based on 372 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karl Lagerfeld work on paper is $3,211. 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 Karl Lagerfeld's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Karl Lagerfeld work on paper is $228,534.

### What is the average price of a Karl Lagerfeld photograph?

Based on 37 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karl Lagerfeld photograph is $1,515. 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 Karl Lagerfeld's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Karl Lagerfeld photograph is $30,240.

### What is the average price of a Karl Lagerfeld print?

Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karl Lagerfeld print is $1,392. 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 Karl Lagerfeld's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Karl Lagerfeld print is $213,400.

### What is the average price of a small Karl Lagerfeld work on paper?

Based on 349 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Karl Lagerfeld work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,919, 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 Karl Lagerfeld photograph?

Based on 20 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Karl Lagerfeld photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,219, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Karl Lagerfeld's auction record?

Karl Lagerfeld's auction record is $228,534, set in 2021.

---

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

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Karl Lagerfeld auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/karl-lagerfeld (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.