Utamaro (1753–1806)
What is Utamaro’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 234 auction results for Utamaro at 38 houses since 1989. Over the last 24 months the median price was $179 including buyer’s premium (middle half $66–$362, n=8). The auction record is $6,463 for Women Arranging Their Hair (2005, Skinner (Bonhams Skinner)). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Women Arranging Their Hair, 1796 | Color | $6,463 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Oct 2005 |
| 2 | Women Arranging Their Hair, 1796 | Color | $6,463 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Oct 2005 |
| 3 | a bust portrait of a courtesan with an elaborate coiffure holding a scenic fan | Print, traces of mica ground | $6,325 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Apr 1995 |
| 4 | a bust portrait of a courtesan with an elaborate coiffure holding a scenic fan | Print, traces of mica ground | $6,325 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Nov 1995 |
| 5 | a bust portrait of a bijin adjusting a hairpin, her head turned to her right | Oban tate-e | $4,425 | Christie's | Nov 1999 |
| 6 | triptych of courtesans in a garden, circa 1790 | $4,313 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Jul 1994 | |
| 7 | a triptych, of courtesans picking fruit, circa 1790 | $4,025 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Jul 1994 | |
| 8 | Furyu shiki no asobi, circa 1800 | Oban tate-e print | $3,934 | Tajan | Jun 2012 |
| 9 | a double bust portrait of a man and woman | Impression | $2,645 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Nov 1995 |
| 10 | a double bust portrait of a man and woman | $2,645 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Apr 1995 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 87 | $415 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 22 | $292 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 234 results from 38 houses · How we compute these figures
Utamaro is a Japanese artist with 308 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $568. 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 Utamaro is recorded as sold in 2026 for $690; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Utamaro record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Utamaro on OpeningBid →What is a Utamaro work worth?
Across 221 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Utamaro work is $568.
The median Utamaro print sells for $506 across 207 lots.
The median Utamaro painting sells for $32,816 across 1 lots.
The median Utamaro sculpture sells for $73 across 1 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Utamaro prints typically sell for $122–$697 (the middle half of 67 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 | 271 | $506†‡ | $7,189‡ | 76.4% | 2026-09-23 |
| Paintings | 3 | $32,816‡ | $32,816‡ | 33.3% | 2025-06-06 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $73† | $73† | — | 2018-01-10 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 12 | $5,375†‡ | $32,816‡ | — | 2025-06-06 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Utamaro's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (271 lots) median $506 with 76.4% sell-through. Paintings (3 lots) median $32,816, record $32,816. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical Utamaro painting sells for around 65× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 12 lots) the median is $5,375.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 67 | $122–$697†‡ | $298†‡ | $3,934 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $424–$1,372†‡ | $1,235†‡ | $1,566 |
† 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 | 2025 | $32,816‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $7,189‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2005 | $6,463 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $73† |
† 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 Utamaro worth?
Across 221 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Utamaro work is $568. The median Utamaro print sells for $506 across 207 lots. The median Utamaro painting sells for $32,816 across 1 lots. The median Utamaro sculpture sells for $73 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Utamaro prints typically sell for $122–$697 (the middle half of 67 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 Utamaro print?
Based on 207 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Utamaro print is $506. 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 Utamaro's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Utamaro print is $7,189. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a small Utamaro print?
Based on 67 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Utamaro print (small (under 50 cm)) is $298, 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 Utamaro's auction record?
Utamaro's auction record is $32,816, set in 2025. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
See the full Utamaro record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Utamaro on OpeningBid →