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

# Michael Ayrton (1921–1975)

## What is Michael Ayrton’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 320 auction results for Michael Ayrton at 29 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,226 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,012–$4,911, n=36). The auction record is $306,659 for The Arkville Minotaur (2013, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Arkville Minotaur, 1968-69 | Bronze with a grey/green patina | $306,659 | Christie's | Jul 2013 |
| 2 | Icarus Falls VI, 1960 | Oil and mixed media on board | $154,946 | Sotheby's | Jun 2021 |
| 3 | Icarus rising III | Patinated bronze | $69,702 | Woolley and Wallis | Feb 2018 |
| 4 | Golden Couple (Afternoon), 1973 | 18 carat yellow gold, on a black stone base | $61,840 | Christie's | Oct 2022 |
| 5 | Falconer III | Oil on board | $44,308 | Sotheby's | Nov 2016 |
| 6 | Falcon Watcher, 1954 | Bronze | $43,750 | Rago Arts | Nov 2021 |
| 7 | Talos, 1921 | Bronze | $40,728 | Bonhams | Jun 2024 |
| 8 | Icarus II | Bronze | $37,978 | Sotheby's | Nov 2016 |
| 9 | Actor | Painted bronze | $31,649 | Sotheby's | Nov 2016 |
| 10 | Large Cycladic I | Gouache, oil and sand on board | $31,649 | Sotheby's | Nov 2016 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 80 | $7,058 |
| Paintings | 47 | $5,486 |
| Other | 32 | $2,809 |
| Works on paper | 65 | $1,505 |
| Prints | 31 | $393 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $17,583 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 81 | $4,263 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 142 | $2,798 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 320 results from 29 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Michael Ayrton is a British (modern) artist with 393 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $3,278. 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 Michael Ayrton is recorded as sold in 2026 for $6,346; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**2 Michael Ayrton works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Michael Ayrton on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/michael-ayrton?ref=kg:michael-ayrton) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Michael Ayrton work worth?

Across 303 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Michael Ayrton work is $3,278.

The median Michael Ayrton work on paper sells for $1,326 across 85 lots.

The median Michael Ayrton sculpture sells for $7,119 across 88 lots.

The median Michael Ayrton painting sells for $5,682 across 58 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Michael Ayrton work on papers typically sell for $940–$2,253 (the middle half of 66 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Michael Ayrton sculptures typically sell for $4,173–$10,130 (the middle half of 62 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 | 54 | $384†‡ | $15,824 | 83.3% | 2026-06-02 |
| Paintings | 70 | $5,682†‡ | $154,946 | 82.9% | 2026-06-02 |
| Works on Paper | 98 | $1,326†‡ | $31,649 | 86.7% | 2026-10-30 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 98 | $7,119†‡ | $306,659 | 89.8% | 2026-06-02 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 16 | $34,814 | $306,659 | — | 2024-06-19 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Michael Ayrton's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (54 lots) median $384 with 83.3% sell-through. Paintings (70 lots) median $5,682, record $154,946. A typical Michael Ayrton painting sells for around 15× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 16 lots) the median is $34,814.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 23 | $336–$665†‡ | $472†‡ | $2,405† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 21 | $197–$427†‡ | $335†‡ | $15,824 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $2,899–$7,418†‡ | $5,578†‡ | $19,077 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 32 | $3,613–$11,161‡ | $5,360‡ | $44,308 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ 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) | 66 | $940–$2,253†‡ | $1,252†‡ | $11,328 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 17 | $1,202–$3,988†‡ | $1,937†‡ | $15,824 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 62 | $4,173–$10,130†‡ | $6,691†‡ | $61,840 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 14 | $5,217–$17,844‡ | $8,001‡ | $69,702 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $9,121–$42,239 | $17,580 | $306,659 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2013 | $306,659 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $154,946 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $69,702 |
| Paintings | 2016 | $44,308 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $31,649 |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $15,824 |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $15,824 |
| Prints & Editions | 2006 | $2,405† |

† 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 Michael Ayrton worth?

Across 303 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Michael Ayrton work is $3,278. The median Michael Ayrton work on paper sells for $1,326 across 85 lots. The median Michael Ayrton sculpture sells for $7,119 across 88 lots. The median Michael Ayrton painting sells for $5,682 across 58 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Michael Ayrton work on papers typically sell for $940–$2,253 (the middle half of 66 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Michael Ayrton sculptures typically sell for $4,173–$10,130 (the middle half of 62 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 Michael Ayrton work on paper?

Based on 85 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Michael Ayrton work on paper is $1,326. 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 Michael Ayrton's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Michael Ayrton work on paper is $31,649.

### What is the average price of a Michael Ayrton sculpture?

Based on 88 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Michael Ayrton sculpture is $7,119. 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 Michael Ayrton's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Michael Ayrton sculpture is $306,659.

### What is the average price of a Michael Ayrton painting?

Based on 58 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Michael Ayrton painting is $5,682. 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 Michael Ayrton's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Michael Ayrton painting is $154,946.

### What is the average price of a small Michael Ayrton work on paper?

Based on 66 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Michael Ayrton work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,252, 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 Michael Ayrton sculpture?

Based on 62 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Michael Ayrton sculpture (small (under 50 cm)) is $6,691, 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 Michael Ayrton's auction record?

Michael Ayrton's auction record is $306,659, set in 2013.

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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, “Michael Ayrton auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/michael-ayrton (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.