Vilhelm Melbye (1824–1882)
Vilhelm Melbye is a Danish artist with 82 auction lots recorded since 2004, median price $2,607. 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 Vilhelm Melbye is recorded as sold in 2022 for $3,113; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 Vilhelm Melbye work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow Vilhelm Melbye free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Vilhelm Melbye record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Vilhelm Melbye on OpeningBid →What is a Vilhelm Melbye work worth?
Across 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Vilhelm Melbye work is $2,607.
The median Vilhelm Melbye painting sells for $2,271 across 47 lots.
The median Vilhelm Melbye work on paper sells for $384 across 1 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Vilhelm Melbye paintings typically sell for $574–$2,132 (the middle half of 21 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 | 76 | $2,271†‡ | $50,693 | 61.8% | 2026-10-26 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $384 | $384 | 50% | 2010-01-27 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $45,529 | $50,693 | — | 2012-12-04 |
† 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) | 21 | $574–$2,132†‡ | $1,553†‡ | $3,744‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 18 | $1,587–$13,127†‡ | $4,500†‡ | $50,693 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $9,437–$16,131†‡ | $9,744†‡ | $45,529 |
† 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 | 2009 | $50,693 |
| Paintings | 2012 | $45,529 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $384 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Vilhelm Melbye worth?
Across 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Vilhelm Melbye work is $2,607. The median Vilhelm Melbye painting sells for $2,271 across 47 lots. The median Vilhelm Melbye work on paper sells for $384 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Vilhelm Melbye paintings typically sell for $574–$2,132 (the middle half of 21 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 Vilhelm Melbye painting?
Based on 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Vilhelm Melbye painting is $2,271. 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 Vilhelm Melbye's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Vilhelm Melbye painting is $50,693.
What is the average price of a small Vilhelm Melbye painting?
Based on 21 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Vilhelm Melbye painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,553, 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 Vilhelm Melbye painting?
Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Vilhelm Melbye painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,500, 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 Vilhelm Melbye's auction record?
Vilhelm Melbye's auction record is $50,693, set in 2009.
See the full Vilhelm Melbye record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Vilhelm Melbye on OpeningBid →