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

# Paul Gavarni (1804–1866)

## What is Paul Gavarni’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 72 auction results for Paul Gavarni at 28 houses since 2005. Over the last 24 months the median price was $522 including buyer’s premium (middle half $125–$2,343, n=6). The auction record is $11,320 for Portrait de François-Victor Hugo (2025, Artcurial). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portrait de François-Victor Hugo, 1828 | Huile sur toile (Toile d'origine) | $11,320 | Artcurial | Mar 2025 |
| 2 | Aschermittwoch, am Morgen nach dem Ball | Aquarell und Deckfarben über Bleistift auf braunem Velin | $3,249 | Karl & Faber | Nov 2020 |
| 3 | Paul GAVARNI (1804-1866), 1804 | Encre | $2,914 | Maison R&C | Apr 2026 |
| 4 | Portrait de l'Artiste par lui-même, 1804 | Watercolor and pen and ink on cream wove paper | $2,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Nov 2019 |
| 5 | Portrait de l'Artiste par lui-même | Watercolor and pen and ink on cream wove paper | $2,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Nov 2019 |
| 6 | Collection of 16 pencil and pen and ink drawings, 1804 | Pencil and pen and ink drawings | $2,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | May 2020 |
| 7 | Le Collectionneur de tableaux | Panneau | $1,638 | Ader | Oct 2021 |
| 8 | Le joueur d'orgue de Barbarie | Aquarelle gouachée | $1,618 | Tajan | May 2013 |
| 9 | A Derelict Woman, 1848 | Watercolor with white gouache heightening on cream wove paper | $1,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Nov 2019 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Souvenirs de carnaval, 1804 | Tin | $2,635 | Christie's | Jul 2023 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 23 | $640 |
| Prints | 11 | $607 |
| Other | 18 | $513 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 40 | $621 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 72 results from 28 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Paul Gavarni is a French artist with 147 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $482. 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 Paul Gavarni sold in 2026 for $2,914, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**1 Paul Gavarni work is coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Paul Gavarni on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/paul-gavarni?ref=kg:paul-gavarni) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Paul Gavarni work worth?

Across 71 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Paul Gavarni work is $482.

The median Paul Gavarni work on paper sells for $611 across 37 lots.

The median Paul Gavarni print sells for $264 across 19 lots.

The median Paul Gavarni painting sells for $5,885 across 2 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Paul Gavarni work on papers typically sell for $373–$985 (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 | 27 | $264†‡ | $3,345‡ | 70.4% | 2026-07-01 |
| Paintings | 3 | $5,885‡ | $11,320 | 66.7% | 2025-03-27 |
| Works on Paper | 84 | $611†‡ | $3,249 | 44% | 2024-03-20 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $3,675‡ | $11,320 | — | 2025-03-27 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Paul Gavarni's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (27 lots) median $264 with 70.4% sell-through. Paintings (3 lots) median $5,885, record $11,320. A typical Paul Gavarni painting sells for around 22× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 4 lots) the median is $3,675.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $29–$607†‡ | $246†‡ | $3,345‡ |

† 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) | 36 | $373–$985†‡ | $587†‡ | $3,249 |

† 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 | 2025 | $11,320 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $3,345‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $3,249 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $2,750 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $2,635 |
| Paintings | 2011 | $450‡ |

‡ 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 Paul Gavarni worth?

Across 71 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Paul Gavarni work is $482. The median Paul Gavarni work on paper sells for $611 across 37 lots. The median Paul Gavarni print sells for $264 across 19 lots. The median Paul Gavarni painting sells for $5,885 across 2 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Paul Gavarni work on papers typically sell for $373–$985 (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 Paul Gavarni work on paper?

Based on 37 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Paul Gavarni work on paper is $611. 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 Paul Gavarni's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Paul Gavarni work on paper is $3,249.

### What is the average price of a Paul Gavarni print?

Based on 19 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Paul Gavarni print is $264. 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 Paul Gavarni's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Paul Gavarni print is $3,345. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a small Paul Gavarni work on paper?

Based on 36 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Paul Gavarni work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $587, 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 Paul Gavarni print?

Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Paul Gavarni print (small (under 50 cm)) is $246, 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 Paul Gavarni's auction record?

Paul Gavarni's auction record is $11,320, set in 2025.

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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, “Paul Gavarni auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/paul-gavarni (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.