Song Wen-zhi (1919–1999)
What is Song Wen-zhi’s work worth?
As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 1,168 auction results for Song Wen-zhi at 25 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,008 including buyer’s premium (middle half $823–$7,703, n=39). The auction record is $1,250,129 for 运河两岸春意浓 (2018, Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖)). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 运河两岸春意浓, 1987年作 | 设色纸本 | $1,250,129 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2018 |
| 2 | Taihu Chunxiao | 设色纸本 | $332,782 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jan 2013 |
| 3 | 长征第一关, 1966年作 | 设色纸本 | $271,802 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Dec 2011 |
| 4 | 黄山松云, 1981年作 | 设色纸本 | $234,481 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Oct 2011 |
| 5 | 云山入画图, 1989年作 | 设色纸本 | $201,379 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2007 |
| 6 | BOATING IN THE LAKE, 1993 | Ink and colour on paper | $196,653 | Christie's | May 2005 |
| 7 | Guilin Yizhi | 设色纸本 | $114,910 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2017 |
| 8 | 溶洞图, 1963 | 纸本 | $99,029 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | Sep 2011 |
| 9 | 山水 | 设色金笺 | $85,139 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | Apr 2018 |
| 10 | Summer in Lake Dongting, 1992 | Ink and color on golden-flecked paper | $81,620 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Dec 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 137 | $12,125 |
| Paintings | 61 | $10,179 |
| Works on paper | 32 | $9,494 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 19 | $26,285 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 124 | $13,136 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 49 | $10,179 |
Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 1,168 results from 25 houses · How we compute these figures
Song Wen-zhi is a Chinese artist with 1,495 auction lots recorded since 1994, median price $13,162. 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 Song Wen-zhi sold in 2026 for $13,585, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Song Wen-zhi record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Song Wen-zhi on OpeningBid →What is a Song Wen-zhi work worth?
Across 1,168 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Song Wen-zhi work is $13,162.
The median Song Wen-zhi painting sells for $12,376 across 269 lots.
The median Song Wen-zhi work on paper sells for $10,488 across 83 lots.
The median Song Wen-zhi photograph sells for $4,726 across 2 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Song Wen-zhi paintings typically sell for $5,597–$36,133 (the middle half of 87 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Song Wen-zhi paintings typically sell for $4,341–$19,489 (the middle half of 62 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 | 5 | — | — | 80% | 2014-06-27 |
| Paintings | 303 | $12,376†‡ | $802,463‡ | 88.8% | 2026-07-20 |
| Works on Paper | 89 | $10,488‡ | $387,601‡ | 93.3% | 2026-09-18 |
| Photography | 3 | $4,726‡ | $4,726‡ | 66.7% | 2024-12-25 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 31 | $212,781†‡ | $1.3M | — | 2023-12-12 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 62 | $4,341–$19,489‡ | $8,915‡ | $67,443 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 87 | $5,597–$36,133‡ | $13,941‡ | $437,707‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $174,193–$517,891†‡ | $332,782†‡ | $802,463‡ |
† 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) | 11 | $7,390–$13,374‡ | $9,056‡ | $20,131‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 43 | $3,126–$24,274‡ | $14,975‡ | $196,653 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 15 | $1,360–$72,182‡ | $3,775‡ | $387,601‡ |
‡ 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 | 2011 | $802,463‡ |
| Paintings | 2014 | $644,142† |
| Works on Paper | 2012 | $387,601‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2013 | $360,917‡ |
| Photography | 2024 | $4,726‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 Song Wen-zhi worth?
Across 1,168 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Song Wen-zhi work is $13,162. The median Song Wen-zhi painting sells for $12,376 across 269 lots. The median Song Wen-zhi work on paper sells for $10,488 across 83 lots. The median Song Wen-zhi photograph sells for $4,726 across 2 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Song Wen-zhi paintings typically sell for $5,597–$36,133 (the middle half of 87 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Song Wen-zhi paintings typically sell for $4,341–$19,489 (the middle half of 62 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 Song Wen-zhi painting?
Based on 269 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Song Wen-zhi painting is $12,376. 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 Song Wen-zhi's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Song Wen-zhi painting is $802,463. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a Song Wen-zhi work on paper?
Based on 83 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Song Wen-zhi work on paper is $10,488. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Song Wen-zhi's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Song Wen-zhi work on paper is $387,601. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a medium Song Wen-zhi painting?
Based on 87 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Song Wen-zhi painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $13,941, 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 small Song Wen-zhi painting?
Based on 62 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Song Wen-zhi painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $8,915, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Song Wen-zhi's auction record?
Song Wen-zhi's auction record is $1,250,129, set in 2018.
See the full Song Wen-zhi record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Song Wen-zhi on OpeningBid →