Sadao Watanabe (1913–1996)
Sadao Watanabe is a Japanese artist with 63 auction lots recorded since 2011, median price $400. 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 Sadao Watanabe sold in 2025 for $594, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Sadao Watanabe work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Sadao Watanabe free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Sadao Watanabe record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Sadao Watanabe on OpeningBid →What is a Sadao Watanabe work worth?
Across 60 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sadao Watanabe work is $400.
The median Sadao Watanabe print sells for $400 across 58 lots.
The median Sadao Watanabe work on paper sells for $825 across 1 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Sadao Watanabe prints typically sell for $238–$608 (the middle half of 39 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 | 58 | $400†‡ | $2,800† | — | 2025-12-16 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $825† | $825† | — | 2020-04-02 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $1,100† | $2,800† | — | 2023-04-20 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 15 | $288–$475†‡ | $350†‡ | $950† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 39 | $238–$608†‡ | $450†‡ | $2,800† |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $2,800† |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $1,200 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $825† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Sadao Watanabe worth?
Across 60 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sadao Watanabe work is $400. The median Sadao Watanabe print sells for $400 across 58 lots. The median Sadao Watanabe work on paper sells for $825 across 1 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Sadao Watanabe prints typically sell for $238–$608 (the middle half of 39 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 Sadao Watanabe print?
Based on 58 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sadao Watanabe print is $400. 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 Sadao Watanabe's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Sadao Watanabe print is $2,800. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $2,800 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a medium Sadao Watanabe print?
Based on 39 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Sadao Watanabe print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $450, 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 Sadao Watanabe print?
Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Sadao Watanabe print (small (under 50 cm)) is $350, 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 Sadao Watanabe's auction record?
Sadao Watanabe's auction record is $2,800, set in 2023. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $2,800 (buyer's premium not included).
See the full Sadao Watanabe record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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