Walter Sanford (1912–1987)
What is Walter Sanford’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 17 auction results for Walter Sanford at 6 houses since 2012. Over the last 24 months the median price was $445 including buyer’s premium (middle half $397–$588, n=6). The auction record is $28,750 for Study in Black & White (2019, Swann Auction Galleries). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Study in Black & White, 1987 | Oil on masonite board | $28,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2019 |
| 2 | Tabu, 1951 | Oil on masonite | $9,375 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2020 |
| 3 | We Will Count Nothing But Money, 1951 | Oil on masonite | $7,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jan 2020 |
| 4 | Untitled (Modernist Figure), 1960 | Mixed media with canvas and fabric collage on board | $4,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2021 |
| 5 | Sea Movement #2, 1987 | Oil on masonite board | $3,750 | Swann Auction Galleries | Apr 2024 |
| 6 | Untitled (Abstraction), 1987 | Oil on paper | $3,600 | Swann Auction Galleries | Feb 2012 |
| 7 | First Things, 1987 | Oil on canvas mounted on wood panel | $3,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2020 |
| 8 | Proscenium, 1963 | Oil on masonite | $2,860 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2020 |
| 9 | Seated Nude (Artist's Wife), 1959 | Oil on board | $2,750 | Grogan & Company | Jun 2015 |
| 10 | 42nd & Broadway, 1964 | Oil on Masonite | $635 | Toomey & Co. | Dec 2025 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 14 | $2,805 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 9 | $2,860 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 17 results from 6 houses · How we compute these figures
Walter Sanford is an American artist with 22 auction lots recorded since 2012, median price $2,750. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.
A work by Walter Sanford sold in 2024 for $3,750, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Walter Sanford record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Walter Sanford on OpeningBid →What is a Walter Sanford work worth?
Across 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Walter Sanford work is $2,750.
The median Walter Sanford painting sells for $2,860 across 13 lots.
The median Walter Sanford work on paper sells for $4,750 across 1 lots.
Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 13 | $2,860† | $28,750 | — | 2025-12-11 |
| Works on Paper | 1 | $4,750 | $4,750 | — | 2021-04-22 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $540–$5,625† | $2,860† | $9,375 |
† 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 | 2019 | $28,750 |
| Paintings | 2020 | $9,375 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $4,750 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Walter Sanford worth?
Across 17 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Walter Sanford work is $2,750. The median Walter Sanford painting sells for $2,860 across 13 lots. The median Walter Sanford work on paper sells for $4,750 across 1 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a Walter Sanford painting?
Based on 13 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Walter Sanford painting is $2,860. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Walter Sanford's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Walter Sanford painting is $28,750.
What is Walter Sanford's auction record?
Walter Sanford's auction record is $28,750, set in 2019.
See the full Walter Sanford record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Walter Sanford on OpeningBid →