> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/walter-gay · updated 2026-11-02

# Walter Gay (1856–1937)

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 57 auction results for Walter Gay at 17 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,953 including buyer’s premium (middle half $3,650–$9,280, n=7). The auction record is $87,963 for The salon at Château de Fortoiseau (2005, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The salon at Château de Fortoiseau, 1856 | — | $87,963 | Christie's | Jul 2005 |
| 2 | Pavillon Petit Colombe, 1856 | Oil paint | $69,300 | Christie's | Jan 2025 |
| 3 | Room in the Villa Sylvia, 1856 | Oil paint | $52,500 | Christie's | May 2014 |
| 4 | Salon des Aigles, Hotel Crillon, Paris, 1856 | Oil paint | $45,410 | Christie's | Apr 2002 |
| 5 | Interior with Clock Garniture | Oil paint | $40,320 | Sotheby's | Jan 2023 |
| 6 | The New York Salon of Miss Elsie de Wolfe (Le Salon New Yorkais de Miss Elsie de Wolfe) | Oil on canvas | $33,020 | Sotheby's | May 2023 |
| 7 | Cigarrières, 1893 | Oil on canvas | $30,000 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 8 | French Interior, 1856 | Oil paint | $25,300 | Christie's | Dec 1998 |
| 9 | Interior of the Dining Room at the Villa Sylvia, Beaulieu-sur-Mert, 1856 | Black chalk, watercolor and bodycolor, on light brown paper | $21,250 | Christie's | Dec 2004 |
| 10 | Interior Scene | Watercolor on paper | $18,200 | Grogan & Company | May 2022 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 25 | $6,875 |
| Works on paper | 16 | $5,015 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 22 | $11,850 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 19 | $4,750 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 57 results from 17 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Walter Gay is an American artist with 71 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $6,711. 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 Gay is recorded as sold in 2026 for $10,000; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Walter Gay work worth?

Across 54 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Walter Gay work is $6,711.

The median Walter Gay painting sells for $6,546 across 35 lots.

The median Walter Gay work on paper sells for $6,875 across 17 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 | 46 | $6,546†‡ | $69,300 | 76.1% | 2026-04-10 |
| Works on Paper | 21 | $6,875† | $21,250 | 81% | 2025-10-03 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $69,300 | $87,963 | — | 2025-01-23 |

† 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) | 12 | $2,996–$8,480†‡ | $4,875†‡ | $11,750 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 19 | $4,875–$31,510‡ | $10,000‡ | $69,300 |

† 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) | 11 | $3,538–$9,448† | $6,875† | $21,250 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $1,045–$14,220 | $9,480 | $18,200 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2025 | $69,300 |
| Paintings | 2014 | $52,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2004 | $21,250 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $18,200 |

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 Gay worth?

Across 54 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Walter Gay work is $6,711. The median Walter Gay painting sells for $6,546 across 35 lots. The median Walter Gay work on paper sells for $6,875 across 17 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 Gay painting?

Based on 35 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Walter Gay painting is $6,546. 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 Gay's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Walter Gay painting is $69,300.

### What is the average price of a Walter Gay work on paper?

Based on 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Walter Gay work on paper is $6,875. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is Walter Gay's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Walter Gay work on paper is $21,250.

### What is the average price of a medium Walter Gay painting?

Based on 19 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Walter Gay painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $10,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a small Walter Gay painting?

Based on 12 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Walter Gay painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $4,875, 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 Gay's auction record?

Walter Gay's auction record is $87,963, set in 2005.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Walter Gay auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/walter-gay (updated 2026-11-02).

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.