Walter Dexel (1890–1973)
What is Walter Dexel’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 278 auction results for Walter Dexel at 24 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $49,924 including buyer’s premium (middle half $24,403–$97,611, n=9). The auction record is $870,603 for Segelschiff I (2020, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Segelschiff I, 1922 | — | $870,603 | Christie's | Feb 2020 |
| 2 | Lokomotive von Vorne, 1922 | Oil paint | $401,142 | Christie's | Mar 2022 |
| 3 | Das Turmhaus, 1922 | — | $342,754 | Christie's | Mar 2021 |
| 4 | 1922 VIII A, 1922 | Oil paint | $319,433 | Christie's | Jul 2021 |
| 5 | Komposition 1923 XI (recto); Stadt (verso), 1923 | Oil on canvas | $317,018 | Christie's | Oct 2003 |
| 6 | Komposition 26, 1926 | Oil on canvas | $258,931 | Koller Auktionen | Dec 2021 |
| 7 | Das schräge U, 1928 | Hinterglasbild | $257,065 | Christie's | Mar 2021 |
| 8 | Rote Maschine XII, 1922 | Oil paint | $229,897 | Christie's | Jun 2022 |
| 9 | Dampfschiff, 1922 | Öl auf Glas in Künstlerrahmen | $121,091 | Van Ham Kunstauktionen | Jun 2022 |
| 10 | Gelbe Halbscheibe mit Weiß und Grau, 1926 | Oil on cardboard, on panel | $118,980 | Ketterer Kunst | Jun 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 44 | $30,562 |
| Works on paper | 39 | $8,877 |
| Other | 40 | $6,886 |
| Prints | 40 | $2,027 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 59 | $12,390 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 100 | $5,279 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 278 results from 24 houses · How we compute these figures
Walter Dexel is a German artist with 325 auction lots recorded since 1991, median price $2,932. 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 Dexel sold in 2026 for $49,924, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Walter Dexel record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Walter Dexel on OpeningBid →What is a Walter Dexel work worth?
Across 277 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Walter Dexel work is $2,932.
The median Walter Dexel print sells for $666 across 93 lots.
The median Walter Dexel work on paper sells for $5,917 across 81 lots.
The median Walter Dexel painting sells for $25,865 across 55 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Walter Dexel work on papers typically sell for $2,367–$10,538 (the middle half of 61 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Walter Dexel prints typically sell for $527–$1,477 (the middle half of 54 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 | 113 | $666†‡ | $26,400 | 82.3% | 2026-06-12 |
| Paintings | 59 | $25,865†‡ | $401,142 | 93.2% | 2025-12-07 |
| Works on Paper | 84 | $5,917†‡ | $82,261 | 96.4% | 2026-06-10 |
| Photography | 4 | $4,973‡ | $9,679 | — | 2019-05-31 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 14 | $243,481‡ | $870,603 | — | 2025-12-03 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Walter Dexel's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (113 lots) median $666 with 82.3% sell-through. Paintings (59 lots) median $25,865, record $401,142. A typical Walter Dexel painting sells for around 39× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 14 lots) the median is $243,481.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 54 | $527–$1,477†‡ | $706†‡ | $3,897 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 39 | $378–$2,000†‡ | $563†‡ | $26,400 |
† 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) | 26 | $6,141–$52,681†‡ | $13,850†‡ | $401,142 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 29 | $12,390–$69,449‡ | $32,290‡ | $317,018 |
† 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) | 61 | $2,367–$10,538†‡ | $5,270†‡ | $82,261 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 20 | $5,840–$28,242‡ | $15,752‡ | $49,924 |
† 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 | 2022 | $401,142 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $319,433 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $82,261 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $49,924 |
| Prints & Editions | 2012 | $26,400 |
| Photography | 2019 | $9,679 |
| Photography | 2007 | $7,380‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2007 | $6,473 |
‡ 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 Dexel worth?
Across 277 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Walter Dexel work is $2,932. The median Walter Dexel print sells for $666 across 93 lots. The median Walter Dexel work on paper sells for $5,917 across 81 lots. The median Walter Dexel painting sells for $25,865 across 55 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Walter Dexel work on papers typically sell for $2,367–$10,538 (the middle half of 61 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Walter Dexel prints typically sell for $527–$1,477 (the middle half of 54 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 Dexel print?
Based on 93 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Walter Dexel print is $666. 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 Dexel's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Walter Dexel print is $26,400.
What is the average price of a Walter Dexel work on paper?
Based on 81 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Walter Dexel work on paper is $5,917. 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 Dexel's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Walter Dexel work on paper is $82,261.
What is the average price of a Walter Dexel painting?
Based on 55 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Walter Dexel painting is $25,865. 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 Dexel's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Walter Dexel painting is $401,142.
What is the average price of a small Walter Dexel work on paper?
Based on 61 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Walter Dexel work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,270, 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 small Walter Dexel print?
Based on 54 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Walter Dexel print (small (under 50 cm)) is $706, 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 Dexel's auction record?
Walter Dexel's auction record is $870,603, set in 2020.
See the full Walter Dexel record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Walter Dexel on OpeningBid →