> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/walter-dahn · updated 2026-11-03

# Walter Dahn (1954–2024)

## What is Walter Dahn’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 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.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | 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 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 40 | $14,898 |
| Other | 20 | $6,438 |
| Works on paper | 8 | $693 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| 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 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 238 results from 28 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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 $4,541, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Walter Dahn auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/walter-dahn (updated 2026-11-03).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.