Walter Dahn (1954–2024)
What is Walter Dahn’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 238 auction results for Walter Dahn at 28 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $15,136 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,288–$23,461, n=19). The auction record is $83,250 for Alternativvorschlag (Häuser auf Bomben) (2024, Van Ham Kunstauktionen). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alternativvorschlag (Häuser auf Bomben), 1983 | Mischtechnik auf Leinwand | $83,250 | Van Ham Kunstauktionen | Nov 2024 |
| 2 | Atelier | — | $64,704 | Sotheby's | Jun 2007 |
| 3 | Untitled (oil on nettle), 1983 | Oil paint | $64,292 | Kunsthaus Lempertz | May 2025 |
| 4 | Holy, 2005 | Acrylic paint | $62,269 | Sotheby's | Sep 2022 |
| 5 | Portrait J.G.D., 1982 | Oil paint | $61,625 | Kunsthaus Lempertz | Dec 2025 |
| 6 | Du bist schuld, 1981 | Painting | $50,445 | Kunsthaus Lempertz | Jun 2020 |
| 7 | Bestellung, 1981 | Dispersion auf Nessel | $45,409 | Van Ham Kunstauktionen | Nov 2024 |
| 8 | Untitled (from the Ex Voto series), 1987 | Acrylic on canvas | $45,118 | Christie's | Apr 2017 |
| 9 | View of the Top, 1986 | Canvas | $26,144 | Christie's | Nov 2019 |
| 10 | Kopf aus der Platte, 1982 | Acrylic on canvas | $24,442 | Christie's | Oct 2010 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 40 | $14,898 |
| Other | 20 | $6,438 |
| Works on paper | 8 | $693 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 41 | $15,136 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 15 | $3,989 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $678 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 238 results from 28 houses · How we compute these figures
Walter Dahn is a German artist with 318 auction lots recorded since 1999, median price $968. 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 Walter Dahn sold in 2026 for $12,859, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Walter Dahn record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Walter Dahn on OpeningBid →What is a Walter Dahn work worth?
Across 238 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Walter Dahn work is $968.
The median Walter Dahn painting sells for $10,195 across 64 lots.
The median Walter Dahn work on paper sells for $530 across 55 lots.
The median Walter Dahn print sells for $923 across 21 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Walter Dahn work on papers typically sell for $318–$678 (the middle half of 46 sold lots).
Large (over 120 cm) Walter Dahn paintings typically sell for $8,657–$21,006 (the middle half of 43 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 | 25 | $923†‡ | $18,416 | 84% | 2025-05-31 |
| Paintings | 81 | $10,195†‡ | $83,250 | 79% | 2026-06-10 |
| Works on Paper | 69 | $530†‡ | $20,258‡ | 79.7% | 2025-10-02 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 7 | $2,327‡ | $9,287 | — | 2025-05-31 |
| Photography | 5 | $1,754‡ | $1,775 | 40% | 2020-06-17 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 12 | $54,268‡ | $83,250 | — | 2025-12-05 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Walter Dahn's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (25 lots) median $923 with 84% sell-through. Paintings (81 lots) median $10,195, record $83,250. A typical Walter Dahn painting sells for around 11× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 12 lots) the median is $54,268.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $764–$976‡ | $868‡ | $1,211 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $269–$923†‡ | $605†‡ | $18,416 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 5 | $1,092–$2,811‡ | $2,774‡ | $5,103 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $225–$1,099†‡ | $317†‡ | $1,183 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 11 | $1,845–$4,756‡ | $2,491‡ | $22,309 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 43 | $8,657–$21,006†‡ | $14,660†‡ | $83,250 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 46 | $318–$678†‡ | $448†‡ | $1,599 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $1,205–$4,213‡ | $2,039‡ | $20,258‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $1,063–$3,692‡ | $1,231‡ | $4,252‡ |
‡ 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 | 2024 | $83,250 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $64,292 |
| Works on Paper | 2007 | $20,258‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $18,416 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2025 | $9,287 |
| Prints & Editions | 2006 | $9,076 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $6,820 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2015 | $4,252‡ |
‡ 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 Walter Dahn worth?
Across 238 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Walter Dahn work is $968. The median Walter Dahn painting sells for $10,195 across 64 lots. The median Walter Dahn work on paper sells for $530 across 55 lots. The median Walter Dahn print sells for $923 across 21 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Walter Dahn work on papers typically sell for $318–$678 (the middle half of 46 sold lots). Large (over 120 cm) Walter Dahn paintings typically sell for $8,657–$21,006 (the middle half of 43 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 Walter Dahn painting?
Based on 64 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Walter Dahn painting is $10,195. 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 Walter Dahn's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Walter Dahn painting is $83,250.
What is the average price of a Walter Dahn work on paper?
Based on 55 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Walter Dahn work on paper is $530. 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 Walter Dahn's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Walter Dahn work on paper is $20,258. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a Walter Dahn print?
Based on 21 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Walter Dahn print is $923. 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 Walter Dahn's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Walter Dahn print is $18,416.
What is the average price of a small Walter Dahn work on paper?
Based on 46 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Walter Dahn work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $448, 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 large Walter Dahn painting?
Based on 43 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Walter Dahn painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $14,660, 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 Walter Dahn's auction record?
Walter Dahn's auction record is $83,250, set in 2024.
See the full Walter Dahn record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Walter Dahn on OpeningBid →