Ralph Balson (1890–1964)
What is Ralph Balson’s work worth?
As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 61 auction results for Ralph Balson at 9 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $51,604 including buyer’s premium (middle half $10,739–$51,842, n=5). The auction record is $566,940 for CONSTRUCTIVE PAINTING (2017, Deutscher and Hackett). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CONSTRUCTIVE PAINTING, 1953 | Bronze | $566,940 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2017 |
| 2 | CONSTRUCTIVE PAINTING, 1953 | Oil on composition board | $413,515 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2017 |
| 3 | Painting no. 36, 1956, 1890 | Oil on board | $177,229 | Bonhams | Jun 2018 |
| 4 | NON-OBJECTIVE PAINTING, 1958 | Oil on composition board | $136,990 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2012 |
| 5 | CONSTRUCTIVE PAINTING, 1953 | Oil on composition board | $96,918 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2018 |
| 6 | CONSTRUCTIVE PAINTING, 1955 | Oil on composition board | $78,759 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2018 |
| 7 | CONSTRUCTIVE PAINTING, 1955 | Oil on composition board | $77,534 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2018 |
| 8 | CONSTRUCTIVE PAINTING, c.1942 | Oil on card | $56,331 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2024 |
| 9 | CONSTRUCTIVIST PAINTING, c.1942 | Oil on card | $51,842 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2024 |
| 10 | Constructive Painting, 1942 | Oil on card | $51,604 | Deutscher and Hackett | Nov 2024 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 27 | $25,999 |
| Other | 6 | $23,284 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 27 | $25,036 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $22,115 |
Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 61 results from 9 houses · How we compute these figures
Ralph Balson is an Australian artist with 83 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $20,774. 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 Ralph Balson sold in 2024 for $51,842, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Ralph Balson record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Ralph Balson on OpeningBid →What is a Ralph Balson work worth?
Across 61 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ralph Balson work is $20,774.
The median Ralph Balson painting sells for $20,813 across 51 lots.
The median Ralph Balson work on paper sells for $4,434 across 2 lots.
The median Ralph Balson print sells for $49 across 1 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Ralph Balson paintings typically sell for $8,598–$48,649 (the middle half of 40 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 | 1 | $49 | $49 | — | 2024-03-17 |
| Paintings | 62 | $20,813†‡ | $566,940 | 82.3% | 2026-06-02 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $4,434‡ | $7,891‡ | — | 2022-05-17 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $233,126† | $566,940 | — | 2023-05-02 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Ralph Balson's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $49. Paintings (62 lots) median $20,813, record $566,940. A typical Ralph Balson painting sells for around 423× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $233,126.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 40 | $8,598–$48,649†‡ | $21,043†‡ | $566,940 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $21,907–$27,961‡ | $23,252‡ | $136,990 |
† 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 | 2017 | $566,940 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $413,515 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $7,891‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2011 | $977 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $49 |
‡ 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 Ralph Balson worth?
Across 61 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ralph Balson work is $20,774. The median Ralph Balson painting sells for $20,813 across 51 lots. The median Ralph Balson work on paper sells for $4,434 across 2 lots. The median Ralph Balson print sells for $49 across 1 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Ralph Balson paintings typically sell for $8,598–$48,649 (the middle half of 40 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 Ralph Balson painting?
Based on 51 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ralph Balson painting is $20,813. 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 Ralph Balson's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Ralph Balson painting is $566,940.
What is the average price of a medium Ralph Balson painting?
Based on 40 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ralph Balson painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $21,043, 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 Ralph Balson's auction record?
Ralph Balson's auction record is $566,940, set in 2017.
See the full Ralph Balson record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Ralph Balson on OpeningBid →