Tan Yankai (1880–1930)
What is Tan Yankai’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 200 auction results for Tan Yankai at 17 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,185 including buyer’s premium (middle half $911–$7,735, n=18). The auction record is $66,000 for Letters to Zhang Qun (2026, Bonhams). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Letters to Zhang Qun, 1880 | Ink on paper, album of eighteen leaves | $66,000 | Bonhams | Oct 2026 |
| 2 | Letters from Tan Yankai and Tan Zekai to Zhang Chengzhi, two albums | Letters, albums (册页) | $50,306 | Guangzhou Huayi International Auction (Holly's) | May 2017 |
| 3 | Calligraphy in Running Script, 1880 | Ink on paper, horizontal scroll | $33,128 | Bonhams | Oct 2026 |
| 4 | 谭延闿 居正 张人杰 书法对联 三屏立轴 | 书法对联 三屏立轴 | $30,638 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Apr 2016 |
| 5 | Calligraphy in Running Script, 1880 | Ink on dragon-cloud pattern wax paper, scroll | $24,846 | Bonhams | Oct 2026 |
| 6 | Poems in Running Script, 1880 | Ink on paper, album of seven leaves | $24,846 | Bonhams | Oct 2026 |
| 7 | 谭延闿 行书七言联 立轴 | Hanging scroll | $15,643 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2014 |
| 8 | CALLIGRAPHY COUPLET IN XINGSHU | Ink on gold-flecked paper, framed, set of two | $15,314 | Sotheby's | Oct 2013 |
| 9 | 行书八言联 | 水墨纸本 | $14,459 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Aug 2012 |
| 10 | Seven-character Calligraphic Couplet in Regular Script, 1876 | Hanging scrolls | $11,149 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 23 | $4,597 |
| Other | 18 | $3,442 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 20 | $2,891 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $2,387 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 200 results from 17 houses · How we compute these figures
Tan Yankai is a Chinese artist with 239 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $4,816. 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 Tan Yankai sold in 2026 for $24,846, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Tan Yankai record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Tan Yankai on OpeningBid →What is a Tan Yankai work worth?
Across 200 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Tan Yankai work is $4,816.
The median Tan Yankai work on paper sells for $5,251 across 84 lots.
The median Tan Yankai print sells for $2,909 across 1 lots.
Large (over 120 cm) Tan Yankai work on papers typically sell for $2,734–$8,356 (the middle half of 50 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 | $2,909‡ | $2,909‡ | — | 2023-03-27 |
| Works on Paper | 87 | $5,251†‡ | $66,000 | 96.6% | 2026-10-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $31,883 | $66,000 | — | 2026-10-07 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $2,516–$15,373‡ | $4,056‡ | $66,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $543–$1,598‡ | $1,587‡ | $5,614‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 50 | $2,734–$8,356‡ | $5,133‡ | $33,128 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $66,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $33,128 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $2,909‡ |
‡ 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 Tan Yankai worth?
Across 200 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Tan Yankai work is $4,816. The median Tan Yankai work on paper sells for $5,251 across 84 lots. The median Tan Yankai print sells for $2,909 across 1 lots. Large (over 120 cm) Tan Yankai work on papers typically sell for $2,734–$8,356 (the middle half of 50 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 Tan Yankai work on paper?
Based on 84 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Tan Yankai work on paper is $5,251. 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 Tan Yankai's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Tan Yankai work on paper is $66,000.
What is the average price of a large Tan Yankai work on paper?
Based on 50 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Tan Yankai work on paper (large (over 120 cm)) is $5,133, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Tan Yankai's auction record?
Tan Yankai's auction record is $66,000, set in 2026.
See the full Tan Yankai record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Tan Yankai on OpeningBid →