> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/louis-william-wain · updated 2026-11-02

# Louis William Wain (1860–1939)

## What is Louis William Wain’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 143 auction results for Louis William Wain at 13 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $9,243 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,072–$11,233, n=31). The auction record is $48,752 for Come Birdie Come and Live with Me (2023, Bonhams). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Come Birdie Come and Live with Me, 1860 | Painting | $48,752 | Bonhams | Nov 2023 |
| 2 | A Highway Robbery, 1860 | Gouache | $46,734 | Bonhams | Mar 2023 |
| 3 | Psychedelic Cat, 1860 | Watercolour | $45,197 | Bonhams | Mar 2024 |
| 4 | Spring Cleaning, 1860 | Ink on paper | $40,407 | Bonhams | Nov 2024 |
| 5 | The Advance, 1860 | Ink on paper | $37,174 | Bonhams | Nov 2024 |
| 6 | Helping Ma in the Garden, 1860 | Ink on paper | $32,325 | Bonhams | Nov 2024 |
| 7 | The Maypole, 1860 | Painting | $24,846 | Bonhams | Jan 2014 |
| 8 | A Round Game of Cards, 1860 | Ink on paper | $24,244 | Bonhams | Nov 2024 |
| 9 | Portrait of an orange cat, 1860 | Pastel | $21,981 | Bonhams | Mar 2017 |
| 10 | Pirate Pussies, 1860 | Gouache | $19,501 | Bonhams | Nov 2023 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 9 | $8,444 |
| Works on paper | 95 | $5,393 |
| Other | 25 | $3,080 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 12 | $17,254 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 114 | $4,546 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 143 results from 13 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Louis William Wain is a British (modern) artist with 158 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $4,573. 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 William Wain sold in 2026 for $11,152, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Louis William Wain work worth?

Across 136 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Louis William Wain work is $4,573.

The median Louis William Wain work on paper sells for $3,525 across 65 lots.

The median Louis William Wain painting sells for $6,390 across 60 lots.

The median Louis William Wain print sells for $274 across 6 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Louis William Wain work on papers typically sell for $1,749–$6,470 (the middle half of 61 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Louis William Wain paintings typically sell for $3,034–$9,780 (the middle half of 52 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 | 7 | $274†‡ | $1,175 | 85.7% | 2023-07-18 |
| Paintings | 63 | $6,390 | $48,752 | 95.2% | 2026-07-15 |
| Works on Paper | 75 | $3,525†‡ | $40,407 | 86.7% | 2026-07-15 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $38,790 | $48,752 | — | 2024-11-27 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Louis William Wain's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (7 lots) median $274 with 85.7% sell-through. Paintings (63 lots) median $6,390, record $48,752. A typical Louis William Wain painting sells for around 23× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 8 lots) the median is $38,790.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 52 | $3,034–$9,780 | $5,796 | $45,197 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $8,016–$30,318 | $17,254 | $48,752 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 61 | $1,749–$6,470†‡ | $3,250†‡ | $40,407 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2023 | $48,752 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $46,734 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $40,407 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $37,174 |
| Prints & Editions | 2002 | $1,175 |
| Prints & Editions | 2002 | $588 |

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 Louis William Wain worth?

Across 136 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Louis William Wain work is $4,573. The median Louis William Wain work on paper sells for $3,525 across 65 lots. The median Louis William Wain painting sells for $6,390 across 60 lots. The median Louis William Wain print sells for $274 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Louis William Wain work on papers typically sell for $1,749–$6,470 (the middle half of 61 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Louis William Wain paintings typically sell for $3,034–$9,780 (the middle half of 52 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 William Wain work on paper?

Based on 65 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Louis William Wain work on paper is $3,525. 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 William Wain's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Louis William Wain work on paper is $40,407.

### What is the average price of a Louis William Wain painting?

Based on 60 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Louis William Wain painting is $6,390.

### What is Louis William Wain's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Louis William Wain painting is $48,752.

### What is the average price of a small Louis William Wain work on paper?

Based on 61 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Louis William Wain work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,250, 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 Louis William Wain painting?

Based on 52 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Louis William Wain painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,796, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is Louis William Wain's auction record?

Louis William Wain's auction record is $48,752, set in 2023.

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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, “Louis William Wain auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/louis-william-wain (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.