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Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864)

What is Utagawa Kunisada’s work worth?

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 822 auction results for Utagawa Kunisada at 78 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $470 including buyer’s premium (middle half $183–$3,040, n=91). The auction record is $35,000 for Kanshojo (2019, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture
#WorkMediumPriceHouseSold
1Actors Ichikawa Danjuro VII and Ichikawa Ebijuro I in the roles of Takechi Samanosuke and Toranosuke Masakiyo, 1820Woodblock print$32,165Sotheby'sJun 2025
2Enshi goju yojo (Amorous Murasaki finds pleasure in fifty-some chapters ), 1835Woodblock-printed illustrated book; 3 volumes with white paper covers, orange title slips and$28,000Christie'sMar 2022
3Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864)Fan prints (uchiwa-e)$25,000Christie'sSep 2017
4The first: A woman modelling new fashion; a kimono patterned with cuckoos in flight accross the moon (Atsurae zome bijo no shingata). The second: Yosooi of the Matsubaya, kamuro Nioi & Tomeki, from the series Comparison of Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase)Print$24,032Christie'sNov 2017
5Shunka shuto shiki no nagame (In praise of love in four seasons), 1786Woodblock-printed illustrated books embellished with metallic pigments and embossing; Spring and Summer vols in orange paper covers with blue slips, Autumn and Winter vols in green and orange paper cover with purple slips; signed$24,000Christie'sMar 2022
6Shokunin (Artisans), 1857Woodblock print triptych, from the series$20,160Christie'sSep 2024
7Two Actors Fighting at Night, 1786Woodblock print$19,171Christie'sNov 2018
8The courtesans Hanaogi from the Ogiya house, Hanamurasaki from the Tamaya house and Yosoi from the Matsubaya house (Ogiya uchi Hanaogi, Tamaya uchi Hanamurasaki, Matsubaya uchi Yosoi), 1830Woodblock print$16,696Sotheby'sMar 2022
Top auction records: prints & editions
#WorkMediumPriceHouseSold
1Kanshojo, 1786Woodcuts$35,000Christie'sMar 2019
2Kan Shojo, 1786Woodcuts$20,160Christie'sMar 2025
Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)
MediumSalesMedian
Other297$629
Works on paper37$554
Prints41$348
Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)
SizeSalesMedian
Small (under 50 cm)278$724
Medium (50-120 cm)32$308

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 822 results from 78 houses · How we compute these figures

Utagawa Kunisada is a Japanese artist with 1,254 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $252. 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 Utagawa Kunisada sold in 2026 for $278, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

3 Utagawa Kunisada works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Utagawa Kunisada free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.

See the full Utagawa Kunisada record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

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What is a Utagawa Kunisada work worth?

Across 771 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Utagawa Kunisada work is $252.

The median Utagawa Kunisada print sells for $238 across 643 lots.

The median Utagawa Kunisada work on paper sells for $870 across 38 lots.

The median Utagawa Kunisada sculpture sells for $446 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) Utagawa Kunisada prints typically sell for $125–$797 (the middle half of 483 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Utagawa Kunisada prints typically sell for $146–$363 (the middle half of 47 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

CategoryLots trackedMedian priceRecord priceSell-throughLast sale
Prints & Editions918$238†‡$35,00070%2026-10-29
Works on Paper39$870†‡$8,82097.4%2025-06-13
Sculpture & Installation1$446‡$446‡—2014-05-07
Masterpieces (top of market)40$10,089‡$35,000—2026-06-10

† 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

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
small (under 50 cm)483$125–$797†‡$227†‡$35,000
medium (50–120 cm)47$146–$363†‡$208†‡$4,007

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

Works on Paper

SizeSold lotsTypical range (p25–p75)MedianRecord
small (under 50 cm)9$485–$4,782†$1,521†$5,740

† 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

MediumYearPrice
Prints & Editions2019$35,000
Prints & Editions2025$32,165
Works on Paper2023$8,820
Works on Paper2006$5,740
Sculpture & Installation2014$446‡

‡ 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 Utagawa Kunisada worth?

Across 771 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Utagawa Kunisada work is $252. The median Utagawa Kunisada print sells for $238 across 643 lots. The median Utagawa Kunisada work on paper sells for $870 across 38 lots. The median Utagawa Kunisada sculpture sells for $446 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Utagawa Kunisada prints typically sell for $125–$797 (the middle half of 483 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Utagawa Kunisada prints typically sell for $146–$363 (the middle half of 47 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 Utagawa Kunisada print?

Based on 643 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Utagawa Kunisada print is $238. 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 Utagawa Kunisada's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Utagawa Kunisada print is $35,000.

What is the average price of a Utagawa Kunisada work on paper?

Based on 38 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Utagawa Kunisada work on paper is $870. 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 Utagawa Kunisada's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Utagawa Kunisada work on paper is $8,820.

What is the average price of a small Utagawa Kunisada print?

Based on 483 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Utagawa Kunisada print (small (under 50 cm)) is $227, 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 Utagawa Kunisada print?

Based on 47 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Utagawa Kunisada print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $208, 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 Utagawa Kunisada's auction record?

Utagawa Kunisada's auction record is $35,000, set in 2019.

See the full Utagawa Kunisada record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.

View Utagawa Kunisada on OpeningBid →