Pu Ru (1896–1963)
What is Pu Ru’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 3,139 auction results for Pu Ru at 38 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,580 including buyer’s premium (middle half $528–$8,226, n=323). The auction record is $1,251,111 for Calligraphy Couplets on Twelve Months (2021, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calligraphy Couplets on Twelve Months, 1942 | Ink on gold-flecked paper, set of twelve, framed | $1,251,111 | Sotheby's | Oct 2021 |
| 2 | Scholar Enjoying Plums While Boating, 1930 | Ink and colour on paper | $848,672 | Christie's | May 2006 |
| 3 | Snowcapped Landscape in Winter | Ink and colour on silk, handscroll | $792,746 | Sotheby's | Apr 2023 |
| 4 | Lady in the Valley, 1932 | Ink and colour on silk, hanging scroll | $485,355 | Sotheby's | Apr 2023 |
| 5 | PINE TREES Handscroll, 1962 | Ink on paper | $404,040 | Christie's | Apr 2001 |
| 6 | Tranquility in the Mountains | Ink and colour on silk, set of four, unmounted, framed | $361,149 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 7 | Xi Guan Kong Yu Tu | Mirror core | $292,861 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Apr 2014 |
| 8 | Ink Lotus, 1954 | Ink on paper, set of four, framed | $291,506 | Sotheby's | Oct 2021 |
| 9 | Tranquil Wilderness | Ink and colour on silk, set of twelve, framed | $275,311 | Sotheby's | Oct 2021 |
| 10 | Zhong Kui and Demons | Ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll | $256,927 | Sotheby's | Apr 2022 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 543 | $10,362 |
| Paintings | 193 | $9,527 |
| Works on paper | 212 | $8,847 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 80 | $12,905 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 371 | $11,381 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 147 | $3,945 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 3,139 results from 38 houses · How we compute these figures
Pu Ru is a Chinese artist with 4,087 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $11,129. 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 Pu Ru sold in 2026 for $82,848, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Pu Ru record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Pu Ru on OpeningBid →What is a Pu Ru work worth?
Across 3,138 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Pu Ru work is $11,129.
The median Pu Ru work on paper sells for $10,564 across 696 lots.
The median Pu Ru painting sells for $11,964 across 564 lots.
The median Pu Ru print sells for $174 across 7 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Pu Ru work on papers typically sell for $4,636–$26,300 (the middle half of 378 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Pu Ru paintings typically sell for $5,931–$45,691 (the middle half of 198 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 | 7 | $174‡ | $881‡ | — | 2025-06-08 |
| Paintings | 610 | $11,964†‡ | $361,149 | 92.5% | 2026-09-16 |
| Works on Paper | 731 | $10,564‡ | $1.3M | 95.2% | 2026-10-09 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 115 | $158,116†‡ | $1.3M | — | 2026-04-10 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Pu Ru's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (7 lots) median $174. Paintings (610 lots) median $11,964, record $361,149. A typical Pu Ru painting sells for around 69× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 115 lots) the median is $158,116.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 126 | $1,031–$27,825†‡ | $6,008†‡ | $361,149 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 198 | $5,931–$45,691†‡ | $17,702†‡ | $330,096‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $26,740–$97,169‡ | $87,186‡ | $243,294 |
† 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) | 100 | $1,327–$21,010‡ | $6,510‡ | $370,961‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 378 | $4,636–$26,300‡ | $11,123‡ | $1.3M |
| large (over 120 cm) | 93 | $6,592–$48,659‡ | $12,970‡ | $792,746 |
‡ 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 | 2021 | $1.3M |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $875,535‡ |
| Paintings | 2022 | $361,149 |
| Paintings | 2015 | $330,096‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $881‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $175 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Pu Ru worth?
Across 3,138 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Pu Ru work is $11,129. The median Pu Ru work on paper sells for $10,564 across 696 lots. The median Pu Ru painting sells for $11,964 across 564 lots. The median Pu Ru print sells for $174 across 7 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Pu Ru work on papers typically sell for $4,636–$26,300 (the middle half of 378 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Pu Ru paintings typically sell for $5,931–$45,691 (the middle half of 198 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 Pu Ru work on paper?
Based on 696 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Pu Ru work on paper is $10,564. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Pu Ru's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Pu Ru work on paper is $1,251,111.
What is the average price of a Pu Ru painting?
Based on 564 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Pu Ru painting is $11,964. 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 Pu Ru's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Pu Ru painting is $361,149.
What is the average price of a medium Pu Ru work on paper?
Based on 378 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Pu Ru work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $11,123, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is the average price of a medium Pu Ru painting?
Based on 198 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Pu Ru painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $17,702, 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 Pu Ru's auction record?
Pu Ru's auction record is $1,251,111, set in 2021.
See the full Pu Ru record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Pu Ru on OpeningBid →