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

# Olive Cotton (1911–2003)

## What is Olive Cotton’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 46 auction results for Olive Cotton at 7 houses since 1997. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,297 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,530–$6,201, n=14). The auction record is $19,895 for Teacup Ballet (2018, Deutscher and Hackett). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tea Cup Ballet, 1935 | Photograph | $17,960 | Smith & Singer | Apr 2026 |
| 2 | GLASSES | Silver gelatin photograph | $10,089 | Deutscher and Hackett | Jun 2020 |
| 3 | Teacup ballet, 1936 | Silver gelatin photograph | $7,137 | Deutscher and Hackett | May 2026 |
| 4 | Teacup ballet | Silver gelatin photograph | $6,335 | Deutscher and Hackett | Oct 2025 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teacup Ballet, 1935 | Silver gelatin photograph | $19,895 | Deutscher and Hackett | Apr 2018 |
| 2 | TEACUP BALLET, 1935 | Printed 1991 silver gelatin photograph | $18,091 | Deutscher and Hackett | Apr 2018 |
| 3 | Teacup Ballet, 1935 | Silver gelatin photograph | $12,487 | Deutscher and Hackett | May 2015 |
| 4 | TEACUP BALLET, 1994 | Silver gelatin photograph | $11,016 | Deutscher and Hackett | May 2015 |
| 5 | TEACUP BALLET | Silver gelatin photograph | $7,753 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2019 |
| 6 | Teacup ballet, 1936 | Silver gelatin photograph | $6,510 | Deutscher and Hackett | Oct 2025 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 29 | $4,939 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 29 | $4,939 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 46 results from 7 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Olive Cotton is an Australian artist with 59 auction lots recorded since 1997, median price $2,792. 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 Olive Cotton sold in 2026 for $5,677, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Olive Cotton work worth?

Across 46 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Olive Cotton work is $2,792.

The median Olive Cotton photograph sells for $2,500 across 37 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Olive Cotton photographs typically sell for $1,250–$6,980 (the middle half of 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photography | 47 | $2,500†‡ | $19,895 | 78.7% | 2026-05-19 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $18,091 | $19,895 | — | 2026-04-28 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 30 | $1,250–$6,980†‡ | $3,447†‡ | $19,895 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2018 | $19,895 |
| Photography | 2018 | $18,091 |

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 Olive Cotton worth?

Across 46 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Olive Cotton work is $2,792. The median Olive Cotton photograph sells for $2,500 across 37 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Olive Cotton photographs typically sell for $1,250–$6,980 (the middle half of 30 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 Olive Cotton photograph?

Based on 37 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Olive Cotton photograph is $2,500. 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 Olive Cotton's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Olive Cotton photograph is $19,895.

### What is the average price of a small Olive Cotton photograph?

Based on 30 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Olive Cotton photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,447, 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 Olive Cotton's auction record?

Olive Cotton's auction record is $19,895, set in 2018.

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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, “Olive Cotton auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/olive-cotton (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.