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

# 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).

- [Sadao Watanabe on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/sadao-watanabe?ref=kg:sadao-watanabe) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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).

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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, “Sadao Watanabe auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/sadao-watanabe (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.