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

# Wen Jia (1501–1583)

## What is Wen Jia’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 96 auction results for Wen Jia at 17 houses since 1992. Over the last 24 months the median price was $21,373 including buyer’s premium (middle half $1,272–$61,194, n=6). The auction record is $518,153 for Du Fu’s Poem in Running Script (2021, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Du Fu’s Poem in Running Script | Ink on paper, handscroll | $518,153 | Sotheby's | Oct 2021 |
| 2 | Ink Plum Blossom 梅花四詠 | Ink Plum Blossom | $405,566 | Sotheby's | Apr 2021 |
| 3 | Handscrolls of letters to Mr. Wu Dongyuan and the Prince of Lu | Handscroll | $326,759 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Jul 2022 |
| 4 | 文嘉 文彭 山水 扇面 | 水墨洒金笺 | $183,799 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2013 |
| 5 | Pavilion amidst Solitary Clouds | Ink | $126,296 | Christie's | Nov 2024 |
| 6 | Sailing Home, 1773 | Fan leaf, mounted and framed, ink on gold paper | $68,227 | Christie's | Apr 2025 |
| 7 | groupe en stéatite Chine, dynastie Qing, XVII-XVIIIE siècle | Stéatite | $67,196 | Sotheby's | Jun 2010 |
| 8 | LI BAI'S POEMS, CALLIGRAPHY IN REGULAR SCRIPT | Ink on gold paper, fan leaf | $52,500 | Sotheby's | Mar 2013 |
| 9 | Letter to Mo Lin Qi dated March 28th | 水墨纸本 | $43,440 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Dec 2016 |
| 10 | Landscape, 1561 | Ink on paper, hanging scroll | $40,095 | Sotheby's | Nov 2024 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 16 | $16,201 |
| Other | 16 | $7,573 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $16,223 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 9 | $16,178 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 10 | $4,369 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 96 results from 17 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Wen Jia is a Chinese artist with 143 auction lots recorded since 1992, median price $5,965. 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 Wen Jia sold in 2025 for $68,227, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Wen Jia work worth?

Across 96 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wen Jia work is $5,965.

The median Wen Jia work on paper sells for $16,178 across 41 lots.

The median Wen Jia painting sells for $3,976 across 7 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 | 10 | $3,976‡ | $314,310‡ | 70% | 2022-02-22 |
| Works on Paper | 47 | $16,178‡ | $1.2M‡ | 87.2% | 2025-12-18 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 15 | $334,770‡ | $1.8M‡ | — | 2024-11-27 |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

## Price by size

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $910–$68,227‡ | $14,595‡ | $374,738‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $12,465–$93,430‡ | $29,493‡ | $1.2M‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $1,829–$7,131‡ | $2,808‡ | $518,153 |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $1.2M‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $518,153 |
| Paintings | 2020 | $314,310‡ |
| Paintings | 2012 | $7,442‡ |

‡ 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 Wen Jia worth?

Across 96 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wen Jia work is $5,965. The median Wen Jia work on paper sells for $16,178 across 41 lots. The median Wen Jia painting sells for $3,976 across 7 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 Wen Jia work on paper?

Based on 41 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wen Jia work on paper is $16,178. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Wen Jia's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Wen Jia work on paper is $1,167,667. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a medium Wen Jia work on paper?

Based on 16 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Wen Jia work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $29,493, 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 Wen Jia work on paper?

Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Wen Jia work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $14,595, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Wen Jia's auction record?

Wen Jia's auction record is $1,805,805, set in 2018. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

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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, “Wen Jia auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/wen-jia (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.