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

# Karl Zerbe (1903–1972)

Karl Zerbe is an American artist with 34 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $780. 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 Zerbe sold in 2026 for a hammer price of $950 (buyer's premium not included), according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Karl Zerbe work worth?

Across 21 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Karl Zerbe work is $780.

The median Karl Zerbe painting sells for $810 across 10 lots.

The median Karl Zerbe work on paper sells for $800 across 5 lots.

The median Karl Zerbe print sells for $509 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 | 3 | $509 | $550 | 66.7% | 2015-09-30 |
| Paintings | 18 | $810†‡ | $2,000 | 55.6% | 2026-03-22 |
| Works on Paper | 8 | $800† | $1,725 | 62.5% | 2022-04-21 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Karl Zerbe's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (3 lots) median $509 with 66.7% sell-through. Paintings (18 lots) median $810, record $2,000.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $663–$1,152† | $935† | $2,000 |

† 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 | 2015 | $2,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2001 | $1,725 |
| Works on Paper | 1994 | $1,700 |
| Paintings | 2010 | $1,304 |
| Prints & Editions | 2006 | $550 |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $468 |

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 Zerbe worth?

Across 21 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Karl Zerbe work is $780. The median Karl Zerbe painting sells for $810 across 10 lots. The median Karl Zerbe work on paper sells for $800 across 5 lots. The median Karl Zerbe print sells for $509 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 Karl Zerbe painting?

Based on 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karl Zerbe painting is $810. 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 Zerbe's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Karl Zerbe painting is $2,000.

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

Karl Zerbe's auction record is $2,500, set in 2021.

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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 Zerbe auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/karl-zerbe (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.