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

# Sarah Bernhardt (1844–1923)

## What is Sarah Bernhardt’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 37 auction results for Sarah Bernhardt at 16 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $40,190 including buyer’s premium (middle half $27,174–$60,755, n=6). The auction record is $259,446 for Autoportrait en chimère, encrier (Self-portrait as a Chimera, inkwell) (2020, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Autoportrait en chimère, encrier (Self-portrait as a Chimera, inkwell), 1879 | Bronze | $259,446 | Christie's | Jul 2020 |
| 2 | La Dormeuse, 1878 | Painting | $135,450 | Phillips | Feb 2026 |
| 3 | Hermione, 2017 | White marble, on a revolving nero portoro marble base | $132,626 | Sotheby's | Jul 2018 |
| 4 | Autoportrait en chimère, 1880 | Sculpture en bronze ciselé et patiné formant encrier | $77,075 | Christophe Joron-Derem | Jun 2017 |
| 5 | Le Chant (Allegory of Song), 1844 | Marble | $65,000 | Christie's | Feb 2025 |
| 6 | Le Chant, 1879 | Marbre blanc | $48,019 | Christie's | Jun 2025 |
| 7 | Algues (laminaire), 1900 | Bronze | $37,086 | Ader | Dec 2014 |
| 8 | Fantastical Inkwell, self-portrait as a sphinx, 1879 | Sculpture | $32,361 | Sotheby's | Jul 2026 |
| 9 | Mars enfant (The Young Mars), 1895 | Polychromed earthenware | $25,445 | Sotheby's | Dec 2024 |
| 10 | Fantastical inkwell, self-portrait as a sphinx, 1879 | Bronze | $15,907 | Sotheby's | Jul 2020 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture | 8 | $56,509 |
| Other | 10 | $600 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $4,710 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 37 results from 16 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Sarah Bernhardt is a French artist with 38 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $2,307. 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 Sarah Bernhardt sold in 2026 for $32,361, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

- [Sarah Bernhardt on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/sarah-bernhardt?ref=kg:sarah-bernhardt) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Sarah Bernhardt work worth?

Across 32 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sarah Bernhardt work is $2,307.

The median Sarah Bernhardt sculpture sells for $34,724 across 12 lots.

The median Sarah Bernhardt photograph sells for $460 across 7 lots.

The median Sarah Bernhardt painting sells for $5,924 across 3 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 | 2 | $544 | $681 | — | 2021-07-15 |
| Paintings | 3 | $5,924‡ | $135,450 | — | 2026-02-28 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $308 | $308 | — | 2011-10-14 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 13 | $34,724† | $259,446 | 92.3% | 2026-07-02 |
| Photography | 9 | $460‡ | $2,530 | 77.8% | 2025-05-28 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $135,450 | $259,446 | — | 2026-02-28 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Sarah Bernhardt's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $544. Paintings (3 lots) median $5,924, record $135,450. A typical Sarah Bernhardt painting sells for around 11× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $135,450.

## Price by size

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $8,538–$104,850† | $32,361† | $259,446 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2020 | $259,446 |
| Paintings | 2026 | $135,450 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $132,626 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $5,924‡ |
| Photography | 1996 | $2,530 |
| Prints & Editions | 2000 | $681 |
| Photography | 2018 | $652‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $406 |

‡ 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 Sarah Bernhardt worth?

Across 32 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sarah Bernhardt work is $2,307. The median Sarah Bernhardt sculpture sells for $34,724 across 12 lots. The median Sarah Bernhardt photograph sells for $460 across 7 lots. The median Sarah Bernhardt painting sells for $5,924 across 3 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 Sarah Bernhardt sculpture?

Based on 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sarah Bernhardt sculpture is $34,724. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Sarah Bernhardt's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Sarah Bernhardt sculpture is $259,446.

### What is Sarah Bernhardt's auction record?

Sarah Bernhardt's auction record is $259,446, set in 2020.

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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, “Sarah Bernhardt auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/sarah-bernhardt (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.