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

# Kusakabe Kimbei (1840–1930)

## What is Kusakabe Kimbei’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 52 auction results for Kusakabe Kimbei at 16 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $490 including buyer’s premium (middle half $254–$544, n=5). The auction record is $25,898 for Japan, 1880s (2012, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan, 1880s, 1880s | 100 hand-colored albumen prints, mounted back to back in bound album | $25,898 | Christie's | May 2012 |
| 2 | Ornately bound lacquer album containing 100 rich, delicately hand-tinted photographs of Japan, with costume studies, sa, circa 1889 | Photographs | $19,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2008 |
| 3 | Album containing 50 hand-colored photographs of Japan in beautiful lacquer covers with ivory inlay, with views of lands, 1880s | Photographs | $8,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2007 |
| 4 | Beautiful Japanese lacquer album with 50 hand-colored photographs, circa 1890 | Photographs | $5,760 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2008 |
| 5 | An album with 49 unusually fine Japanese scenes, including sumo wrestlers, tattooed men, tradesmen, beautiful geishas, and more; and a photo attributed to Beato of a Korean group (perhaps an extended family), 1880s | Albumen | $5,200 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2017 |
| 6 | Tatoué. Costume d’hiver. Japonaises en promenade. Soirée d’hiver. Coup de vent. Danseuses. Coiffeurs. Acrobate. Prisonnier et gardien. Jardin d’Iris. Chrysanthèmes. Champs de Sago-Palm. Récolte de thé. Plantation de bambous. Récolte de thé. Manufacture de thé. Labourage du riz. Repiquage du riz. Egrenage de l’orge. Chaise à porteurs. Scenettes comiques. Jinrikisha. Musiciennes. Filles de Yoshiwara. Jeu de Konkonchiki. Masseur aveugle. Médecin. Bain. Cérémonie de fiançailles. Cérémonie du thé. Cérémonie de visite., 1880 | 50 épreuves sur papier albuminé rehaussées à l’aquarelle et contrecollées sur cartons | $5,048 | Ader | Jun 2018 |
| 7 | Beautiful album with 50 delicately hand-colored photographs, including scenic landscapes, Mt. Fuji, street scenes of Yo, 1880s | Photographs | $5,040 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2011 |
| 8 | Lavish album with 60 occupational scenes, including geishas at repose and practicing ceremonies, vendors of fans and fabric, craftsmen and wrestlers, 1890 | Albumen print | $4,800 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2010 |
| 9 | Album containing 50 delicately hand-colored photographs of Japan, including lovely landscapes, detailed urban scenes, t, 1887 | Photographs | $4,080 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2012 |
| 10 | A rich album with 50 photographs of Japan, 1890s | Photographs | $4,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2017 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 33 | $2,408 |
| Other | 7 | $1,766 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 41 | $2,375 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 52 results from 16 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Kusakabe Kimbei is a Japanese artist with 80 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $1,792. 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 Kusakabe Kimbei sold in 2026 for $1,792, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Kusakabe Kimbei work worth?

Across 51 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kusakabe Kimbei work is $1,792.

The median Kusakabe Kimbei photograph sells for $2,156 across 38 lots.

The median Kusakabe Kimbei print sells for $1,766 across 7 lots.

The median Kusakabe Kimbei work on paper sells for $4,471 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Kusakabe Kimbei photographs typically sell for $490–$3,840 (the middle half of 37 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 | 8 | $1,766† | $25,898 | 87.5% | 2023-06-08 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $4,471 | $5,048 | 66.7% | 2018-06-21 |
| Photography | 56 | $2,156‡ | $19,000 | 67.9% | 2026-07-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $19,000 | $25,898 | — | 2012-05-16 |

† 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) | 6 | $1,472–$2,362† | $2,039† | $25,898 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 37 | $490–$3,840‡ | $2,308‡ | $19,000 |

‡ 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 | 2012 | $25,898 |
| Photography | 2008 | $19,000 |
| Photography | 2007 | $8,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $5,048 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $3,894 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $2,378† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 Kusakabe Kimbei worth?

Across 51 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Kusakabe Kimbei work is $1,792. The median Kusakabe Kimbei photograph sells for $2,156 across 38 lots. The median Kusakabe Kimbei print sells for $1,766 across 7 lots. The median Kusakabe Kimbei work on paper sells for $4,471 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Kusakabe Kimbei photographs typically sell for $490–$3,840 (the middle half of 37 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 Kusakabe Kimbei photograph?

Based on 38 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Kusakabe Kimbei photograph is $2,156. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Kusakabe Kimbei's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Kusakabe Kimbei photograph is $19,000.

### What is the average price of a small Kusakabe Kimbei photograph?

Based on 37 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Kusakabe Kimbei photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,308, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Kusakabe Kimbei's auction record?

Kusakabe Kimbei's auction record is $25,898, set in 2012.

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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, “Kusakabe Kimbei auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/kusakabe-kimbei (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.