Marcel Broodthaers (1924–1976)
What is Marcel Broodthaers’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 450 auction results for Marcel Broodthaers at 26 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $6,565 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,190–$16,380, n=45). The auction record is $675,846 for Surface de moules (avec sac) (Surface of mussels (with bag)) (2012, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surface de moules (avec sac) (Surface of mussels (with bag)), 1966-1974 | Wax | $675,846 | Christie's | Jun 2012 |
| 2 | Éloge du sujet, 1974 | (i) paper collage on card, in artist's frame (ii) bottle, handbag, painter's palette, envelope, mirror, paper box, hat, tie, canvas on stretcher and paper label, on artist's wooden table with vitrine (ii) wooden case containing painting material, on artist's wooden plinth with vitrine | $497,705 | Phillips | Oct 2024 |
| 3 | Poêle de moules, 1965 | Wax | $439,500 | Christie's | May 2017 |
| 4 | Moules sauce blanche, 1967 | Oil paint | $358,000 | Christie's | Nov 2000 |
| 5 | Abbildung | Typographic impressions | $333,782 | Phillips | Jun 2013 |
| 6 | PEINTURE A L'OEUF | Oil and painted eggshells on canvas | $329,987 | Sotheby's | Oct 2020 |
| 7 | Casserole de moules avec ficelles, 1967 | Photographic transfer | $299,516 | Christie's | Feb 2016 |
| 8 | Pyramide d'Oeufs, 1966 | Sculpture | $267,945 | Sotheby's | Mar 2023 |
| 9 | Un tableau Magritte, 1967 | Painting | $256,446 | Christie's | Oct 2009 |
| 10 | Culture Internationale, John Dillinger, 1974 | Typographic impression on canvas, in 9 parts | $244,090 | Sotheby's | Oct 2016 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 18 | $94,131 |
| Photographs | 17 | $30,319 |
| Works on paper | 37 | $8,139 |
| Prints | 125 | $4,673 |
| Other | 171 | $848 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 22 | $51,751 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 63 | $9,244 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 150 | $8,932 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 450 results from 26 houses · How we compute these figures
Marcel Broodthaers is a Belgian artist with 538 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $5,370. 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 Marcel Broodthaers sold in 2026 for $20,480, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Marcel Broodthaers works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Marcel Broodthaers free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Marcel Broodthaers record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Marcel Broodthaers on OpeningBid →What is a Marcel Broodthaers work worth?
Across 450 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Marcel Broodthaers work is $5,370.
The median Marcel Broodthaers print sells for $3,540 across 220 lots.
The median Marcel Broodthaers work on paper sells for $11,808 across 32 lots.
The median Marcel Broodthaers photograph sells for $16,789 across 27 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Marcel Broodthaers prints typically sell for $1,815–$10,499 (the middle half of 124 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Marcel Broodthaers prints typically sell for $2,190–$10,168 (the middle half of 33 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 | 257 | $3,540†‡ | $82,550 | 85.6% | 2026-10-08 |
| Paintings | 14 | $90,855‡ | $333,782 | 78.6% | 2025-11-26 |
| Works on Paper | 39 | $11,808† | $143,854 | 82.1% | 2026-10-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 8 | $90,022 | $675,846 | 87.5% | 2024-10-11 |
| Photography | 37 | $16,789† | $299,516 | 73% | 2024-12-04 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 31 | $154,115† | $675,846 | — | 2025-11-26 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Marcel Broodthaers's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (257 lots) median $3,540 with 85.6% sell-through. Paintings (14 lots) median $90,855, record $333,782. A typical Marcel Broodthaers painting sells for around 26× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 31 lots) the median is $154,115.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 33 | $2,190–$10,168†‡ | $5,682†‡ | $78,274 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 124 | $1,815–$10,499†‡ | $5,533†‡ | $82,550 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $2,751–$6,131† | $4,476† | $64,948 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $35,662–$228,494‡ | $87,500‡ | $333,782 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $9,748–$22,595† | $10,860† | $52,015 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $13,566–$64,961† | $21,936† | $143,854 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $510–$21,980† | $5,081† | $105,364 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $17,222–$129,433 | $31,673 | $299,516 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2012 | $675,846 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2017 | $439,500 |
| Paintings | 2013 | $333,782 |
| Paintings | 2020 | $329,987 |
| Photography | 2016 | $299,516 |
| Photography | 2009 | $256,446 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $143,854 |
| Works on Paper | 1999 | $124,087 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Marcel Broodthaers worth?
Across 450 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Marcel Broodthaers work is $5,370. The median Marcel Broodthaers print sells for $3,540 across 220 lots. The median Marcel Broodthaers work on paper sells for $11,808 across 32 lots. The median Marcel Broodthaers photograph sells for $16,789 across 27 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Marcel Broodthaers prints typically sell for $1,815–$10,499 (the middle half of 124 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Marcel Broodthaers prints typically sell for $2,190–$10,168 (the middle half of 33 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 Marcel Broodthaers print?
Based on 220 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Marcel Broodthaers print is $3,540. 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 Marcel Broodthaers's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Marcel Broodthaers print is $82,550.
What is the average price of a Marcel Broodthaers work on paper?
Based on 32 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Marcel Broodthaers work on paper is $11,808. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Marcel Broodthaers's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Marcel Broodthaers work on paper is $143,854.
What is the average price of a Marcel Broodthaers photograph?
Based on 27 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Marcel Broodthaers photograph is $16,789. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Marcel Broodthaers's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Marcel Broodthaers photograph is $299,516.
What is the average price of a medium Marcel Broodthaers print?
Based on 124 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Marcel Broodthaers print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $5,533, 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 Marcel Broodthaers print?
Based on 33 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Marcel Broodthaers print (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,682, 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 Marcel Broodthaers's auction record?
Marcel Broodthaers's auction record is $675,846, set in 2012.
See the full Marcel Broodthaers record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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