> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mao-dun-2 · updated 2026-11-02

# Mao Dun (1896–1981)

## What is Mao Dun’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 91 auction results for Mao Dun at 12 houses since 2004. Over the last 24 months the median price was $8,712 including buyer’s premium (middle half $5,307–$12,277, n=35). The auction record is $439,491 for 在已有的基礎上繼續努力 (2021, Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖)). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 在已有的基礎上繼續努力, 1976 | Ink on paper | $439,491 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Dec 2021 |
| 2 | Letter to Jiang Deming | 水墨纸本 | $104,549 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | Mar 2025 |
| 3 | Letter to Jiang Deming | 水墨纸本 | $49,106 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | Mar 2025 |
| 4 | Reading Jiaxuan Collection (行书《读稼轩集》), 1980年作 | 水墨纸本 | $41,275 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Dec 2015 |
| 5 | Letter to Jiang Deming | 水墨纸本 | $39,602 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | Mar 2025 |
| 6 | Letter to Jiang Deming | 水墨纸本 | $30,097 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | Mar 2025 |
| 7 | Jingxin, 1976年作 | 水墨纸本 | $27,892 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Mar 2010 |
| 8 | 茅盾 1941年作 书法 立轴, 1941 | 书法 (calligraphy) | $20,059 | Beijing Ginza Auction (北京银座拍卖) | Dec 2016 |
| 9 | Letter to Jiang Deming | 水墨纸本 | $19,009 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | Mar 2025 |
| 10 | Letter to Jiang Deming | 水墨纸本 | $15,841 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | Mar 2025 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 40 | $8,316 |
| Works on paper | 5 | $6,959 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 30 | $10,296 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 91 results from 12 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Mao Dun is a Chinese artist with 118 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $7,281. 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 Mao Dun sold in 2026 for $13,049, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Mao Dun work worth?

Across 91 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mao Dun work is $7,281.

The median Mao Dun work on paper sells for $9,504 across 49 lots.

The median Mao Dun print sells for $2,166 across 2 lots.

The median Mao Dun painting sells for $8,482 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Mao Dun work on papers typically sell for $6,257–$14,653 (the middle half of 36 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 | 3 | $2,166‡ | $2,909‡ | 66.7% | 2023-03-27 |
| Paintings | 1 | $8,482‡ | $8,482‡ | — | 2010-12-03 |
| Works on Paper | 49 | $9,504‡ | $118,941‡ | — | 2026-10-09 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $111,745‡ | $439,491 | — | 2025-03-24 |

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

Mao Dun's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (3 lots) median $2,166 with 66.7% sell-through. Paintings (1 lots) median $8,482, record $8,482. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical Mao Dun painting sells for around 3.9× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $111,745.

## Price by size

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 36 | $6,257–$14,653‡ | $10,071‡ | $117,579 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $1,441–$41,945‡ | $6,104‡ | $53,195‡ |

‡ 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 | 2019 | $117,579 |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $104,549 |
| Paintings | 2010 | $8,482‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $2,909‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $1,424 |

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

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 Mao Dun worth?

Across 91 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Mao Dun work is $7,281. The median Mao Dun work on paper sells for $9,504 across 49 lots. The median Mao Dun print sells for $2,166 across 2 lots. The median Mao Dun painting sells for $8,482 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Mao Dun work on papers typically sell for $6,257–$14,653 (the middle half of 36 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 Mao Dun work on paper?

Based on 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Mao Dun work on paper is $9,504. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Mao Dun's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Mao Dun work on paper is $118,941. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a small Mao Dun work on paper?

Based on 36 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Mao Dun work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $10,071, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Mao Dun's auction record?

Mao Dun's auction record is $439,491, set in 2021.

---

Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Mao Dun auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/mao-dun-2 (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.