Louis Wain (1860–1939)
What is Louis Wain’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 81 auction results for Louis Wain at 16 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,357 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,835–$4,197, n=17). The auction record is $28,998 for To Be Let Unfurnished (2023, Lyon & Turnbull). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | To Be Let Unfurnished | Signed (lower right), pen, ink, watercolour, gouache and pencil on wove paper on Artist's prepared board | $28,998 | Lyon & Turnbull | Oct 2023 |
| 2 | Hockey, circa 1904 | Signed (lower left), pen, ink, watercolour, gouache and pencil on wove paper on Artist's prepared board | $15,262 | Lyon & Turnbull | Oct 2023 |
| 3 | Group of Cats | Gouache and watercolour | $11,854 | Chiswick Auctions | Mar 2024 |
| 4 | Study of a ginger cat, 1860 | Pencil, watercolour and bodycolour | $8,703 | Bonhams | Sep 2017 |
| 5 | Futurist Cat | Ceramic, glaze | $8,255 | Freeman's Hindman | May 2024 |
| 6 | A crowd of cats, 1860 | Watercolour and gouache | $8,196 | Bonhams | Jun 2016 |
| 7 | An Excited Cat | Watercolour | $6,401 | Sworders | Feb 2007 |
| 8 | Portrait of a cat, quarter-length | Watercolour on paper | $5,656 | Roseberys London | Jun 2026 |
| 9 | Lucky black cat, circa 1914 | Painted and glazed porcelain Painted | $5,036 | Chiswick Auctions | Dec 2025 |
| 10 | Daddy Wont Mind! | Ink and watercolour on paper | $4,547 | Roseberys London | May 2022 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 19 | $3,357 |
| Works on paper | 31 | $2,812 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 6 | $8,164 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 41 | $2,475 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 81 results from 16 houses · How we compute these figures
Louis Wain is a British artist with 97 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $2,356. 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 Louis Wain sold in 2026 for $3,736, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Louis Wain works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Louis Wain free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Louis Wain record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Louis Wain on OpeningBid →What is a Louis Wain work worth?
Across 70 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Louis Wain work is $2,356.
The median Louis Wain work on paper sells for $1,873 across 52 lots.
The median Louis Wain print sells for $129 across 2 lots.
The median Louis Wain painting sells for $3,279 across 3 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Louis Wain work on papers typically sell for $960–$2,674 (the middle half of 48 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 | 5 | $129† | $158† | 40% | 2025-07-13 |
| Paintings | 3 | $3,279 | $8,196 | — | 2016-06-07 |
| Works on Paper | 64 | $1,873†‡ | $28,998 | 81.3% | 2026-07-21 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $11,854 | $28,998 | — | 2024-05-21 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Louis Wain's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $129 with 40% sell-through. Paintings (3 lots) median $3,279, record $8,196. A typical Louis Wain painting sells for around 25× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $11,854.
Price by size
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 48 | $960–$2,674†‡ | $1,770†‡ | $6,401 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $28,998 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $15,262 |
| Paintings | 2016 | $8,196 |
| Paintings | 2016 | $3,279 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $158† |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $99† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Louis Wain worth?
Across 70 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Louis Wain work is $2,356. The median Louis Wain work on paper sells for $1,873 across 52 lots. The median Louis Wain print sells for $129 across 2 lots. The median Louis Wain painting sells for $3,279 across 3 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Louis Wain work on papers typically sell for $960–$2,674 (the middle half of 48 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 Louis Wain work on paper?
Based on 52 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Louis Wain work on paper is $1,873. 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 Louis Wain's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Louis Wain work on paper is $28,998.
What is the average price of a small Louis Wain work on paper?
Based on 48 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Louis Wain work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,770, 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 Louis Wain's auction record?
Louis Wain's auction record is $28,998, set in 2023.
See the full Louis Wain record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Louis Wain on OpeningBid →