> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/kunisada-utagawa-3 · updated 2026-11-02

# Kunisada Utagawa (b. 1786)

## What is Kunisada Utagawa’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 342 auction results for Kunisada Utagawa at 69 houses since 1997. Over the last 24 months the median price was $176 including buyer’s premium (middle half $121–$382, n=24). The auction record is $15,861 for The courtesans Hanaogi of the Ogiya house, Shiratama of the Tamaya house and Oyodo of the Tsuruya house (Tsuruya uchi Oyodo, Tamaya uchi Shiratama, Ogiya uchi Hanaogi) (2021, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The courtesans Hanaogi of the Ogiya house, Shiratama of the Tamaya house and Oyodo of the Tsuruya house (Tsuruya uchi Oyodo, Tamaya uchi Shiratama, Ogiya uchi Hanaogi), 19th century | Print | $15,861 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 2 | Utagawa Kunisada (1786 - 1865) Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861) | Surimono | $9,996 | Christie's | Nov 2007 |
| 3 | Left Team: The Cypress Fan; Right Team: The Flower Fan (Hidari hiogi, migi hanaogi) | Print | $8,014 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 4 | The actors Ichikawa Ebizo V and Ichikawa Danjuro VIII, circa 1820s | Woodblock print | $7,492 | Sotheby's | May 2021 |
| 5 | Miyajima in Aki Province (Aki no Miyajima), 19th century | Landscape prints | $7,012 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 6 | An album of seventy-five woodblock prints | Seventy-five woodblock prints, mounted in an album | $6,218 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 7 | A scene of women at a bathhouse from the play Famous Places in Japan: A Thousand Cherry Blossom Trees (Yamato meisho senbonzakura), 19th century | Woodblock print | $5,844 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 8 | Joruri zukushi [Joruri Libretti] | Print | $5,516 | Christie's | Jul 2005 |
| 9 | Hand Games with Floral Sleeves (Kenzumo hana no furisode), 19th century | Vertical oban triptych | $5,009 | Sotheby's | Dec 2021 |
| 10 | Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864) Three woodblock prints, Edo period, 19th century | Woodblock prints | $4,995 | Sotheby's | May 2021 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 106 | $410 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 10 | $428 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 61 | $378 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 342 results from 69 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Kunisada Utagawa is a Japanese artist with 397 auction lots recorded since 1997, median price $155. 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 Kunisada Utagawa is recorded as sold in 2026 for $168; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

- [Kunisada Utagawa on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/kunisada-utagawa-3?ref=kg:kunisada-utagawa-3) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Kunisada Utagawa work worth?

Across 276 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kunisada Utagawa work is $155.

The median Kunisada Utagawa print sells for $122 across 266 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Kunisada Utagawa prints typically sell for $70–$210 (the middle half of 184 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Kunisada Utagawa prints typically sell for $84–$286 (the middle half of 23 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 | 338 | $122†‡ | $15,861 | 78.7% | 2026-07-31 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | — | — | 0% | — |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 18 | $5,002 | $15,861 | — | 2026-06-12 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 184 | $70–$210†‡ | $102†‡ | $7,492 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 23 | $84–$286†‡ | $170†‡ | $15,861 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $15,861 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $8,014 |

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 Kunisada Utagawa worth?

Across 276 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kunisada Utagawa work is $155. The median Kunisada Utagawa print sells for $122 across 266 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Kunisada Utagawa prints typically sell for $70–$210 (the middle half of 184 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Kunisada Utagawa prints typically sell for $84–$286 (the middle half of 23 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 Kunisada Utagawa print?

Based on 266 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kunisada Utagawa print is $122. 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 Kunisada Utagawa's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kunisada Utagawa print is $15,861.

### What is the average price of a small Kunisada Utagawa print?

Based on 184 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Kunisada Utagawa print (small (under 50 cm)) is $102, 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 medium Kunisada Utagawa print?

Based on 23 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Kunisada Utagawa print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $170, 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 Kunisada Utagawa's auction record?

Kunisada Utagawa's auction record is $15,861, 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, “Kunisada Utagawa auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/kunisada-utagawa-3 (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.
