Tan Ze-kai (1889–1948)
What is Tan Ze-kai’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 246 auction results for Tan Ze-kai at 22 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,320 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,627–$3,629, n=14). The auction record is $30,417 for Jingxin (2017, 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 | Jingxin | 水墨纸本 | $30,417 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2017 |
| 2 | Seven-Characters Calligraphic Couplet in Running Script | Ink on paper with gold sprinkling | $20,323 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2021 |
| 3 | Calligraphy Couplet in Xingshu, 1930 | Ink on gold-flecked paper, pair of hanging scrolls | $17,730 | Sotheby's | Apr 2014 |
| 4 | Calligraphy, 1889 | Hanging scrolls | $9,559 | Christie's | May 2018 |
| 5 | 大同胞 | Calligraphy on mirror core | $7,887 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2018 |
| 6 | 谭泽闿 1946年作 行书 立轴 四屏, 1946 | 行书 立轴 四屏 | $7,887 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2018 |
| 7 | 行书七言联 | 水墨笺本 | $7,222 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Sep 2015 |
| 8 | 行书摘录《梁书》四屏 | Ink on paper | $6,650 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jul 2023 |
| 9 | 谭泽闿 行书七言联 立轴 | 水墨笺本 | $6,323 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Dec 2018 |
| 10 | Calligraphy in Xingshu, 1940 | Ink on paper, hanging scroll, set of four | $5,712 | Sotheby's | Oct 2025 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 14 | $4,524 |
| Other | 26 | $2,567 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 19 | $3,327 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 246 results from 22 houses · How we compute these figures
Tan Ze-kai is a Chinese artist with 313 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $3,059. 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 Ze-kai sold in 2026 for $4,874, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Tan Ze-kai record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Tan Ze-kai on OpeningBid →What is a Tan Ze-kai work worth?
Across 246 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Tan Ze-kai work is $3,059.
The median Tan Ze-kai work on paper sells for $3,286 across 88 lots.
The median Tan Ze-kai painting sells for $15,622 across 2 lots.
Large (over 120 cm) Tan Ze-kai work on papers typically sell for $2,452–$6,323 (the middle half of 53 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2 | $15,622‡ | $30,417 | — | 2017-06-05 |
| Works on Paper | 91 | $3,286†‡ | $26,562‡ | 96.7% | 2026-06-16 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | — | — | — | 2016-12-23 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $25,189†‡ | $30,417 | — | 2021-06-06 |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 10 | $1,161–$2,193‡ | $1,630‡ | $9,196‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 53 | $2,452–$6,323†‡ | $3,697†‡ | $26,562‡ |
† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2017 | $30,417 |
| Works on Paper | 2014 | $26,562‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $24,846‡ |
| Paintings | 2010 | $827 |
‡ 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 Ze-kai worth?
Across 246 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Tan Ze-kai work is $3,059. The median Tan Ze-kai work on paper sells for $3,286 across 88 lots. The median Tan Ze-kai painting sells for $15,622 across 2 lots. Large (over 120 cm) Tan Ze-kai work on papers typically sell for $2,452–$6,323 (the middle half of 53 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 Ze-kai work on paper?
Based on 88 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Tan Ze-kai work on paper is $3,286. 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 Ze-kai's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Tan Ze-kai work on paper is $26,562. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a large Tan Ze-kai work on paper?
Based on 53 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Tan Ze-kai work on paper (large (over 120 cm)) is $3,697, 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 medium Tan Ze-kai work on paper?
Based on 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Tan Ze-kai work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,630, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Tan Ze-kai's auction record?
Tan Ze-kai's auction record is $30,417, set in 2017.
See the full Tan Ze-kai record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Tan Ze-kai on OpeningBid →