William Birnie (1929–2006)
What is William Birnie’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 22 auction results for William Birnie at 6 houses since 2018. Over the last 24 months the median price was $857 including buyer’s premium (middle half $671–$996, n=9). The auction record is $3,796 for AN IRISH GEORGE III MAHOGANY LONGCASE CLOCK, BY WILLIAM BIRNIE, DUBLIN the carved hood with three turned finials and Corinthian columns enclosing a brass face with silvered dial and Roman numeral chapter ring, the waisted trunk section with arche (2026, James Adam Salesrooms). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AN IRISH GEORGE III MAHOGANY LONGCASE CLOCK, BY WILLIAM BIRNIE, DUBLIN the carved hood with three turned finials and Corinthian columns enclosing a brass face with silvered dial and Roman numeral chapter ring, the waisted trunk section with arche, George III | Mahogany with brass face and silvered dial | $3,796 | James Adam Salesrooms | Apr 2026 |
| 2 | PRAWN BOATS, PITTENWEEM, 1999 | Signed and dated '99, oil on board | $2,046 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jan 2022 |
| 3 | On the Grand Canal, 1998 | Signed and dated lower right, oil on board | $1,914 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jun 2023 |
| 4 | LA CITADELLA, 1995, 1995 | <p>Signed and dated '95 lower left, oil on board</p> | $1,784 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jan 2025 |
| 5 | HURDY GURDY WITH KLIMT | Signed (twice) lower right, oil on board | $1,106 | Lyon & Turnbull | Apr 2024 |
| 6 | PITTENWEEM FROM THE HARBOUR | <p>Signed lower right, oil on board</p> | $996 | Lyon & Turnbull | Feb 2026 |
| 7 | THE BALCONY, NAJEC, 1991 | Signed and dated '91 lower right, mixed media on canvas | $933 | Lyon & Turnbull | Feb 2022 |
| 8 | ROLLING FARMLANDS, FIFE | <p>Signed and dated '92 lower right, oil on board</p> | $906 | Lyon & Turnbull | Feb 2026 |
| 9 | AH96 | <p>Signed lower left, oil on board</p> | $857 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jun 2025 |
| 10 | PORTRAIT, 1981 | Signed and dated '81 lower right, oil on board | $734 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jun 2024 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 13 | $906 |
| Other | 5 | $734 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 8 | $881 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $478 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 22 results from 6 houses · How we compute these figures
William Birnie is a Scottish artist with 26 auction lots recorded since 2018, median price $732. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.
A work by William Birnie sold in 2026 for $3,796, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full William Birnie record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Birnie on OpeningBid →What is a William Birnie work worth?
Across 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Birnie work is $732.
The median William Birnie painting sells for $691 across 18 lots.
The median William Birnie work on paper sells for $671 across 1 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 | 21 | $691†‡ | $2,046 | 85.7% | 2026-02-11 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $671 | $671 | 33.3% | 2026-06-23 |
† 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) | 8 | $412–$586† | $462† | $1,914 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $640–$928†‡ | $795†‡ | $2,046 |
† 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 | $2,046 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $1,914 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $671 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Birnie worth?
Across 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Birnie work is $732. The median William Birnie painting sells for $691 across 18 lots. The median William Birnie work on paper sells for $671 across 1 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 William Birnie painting?
Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Birnie painting is $691. 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 William Birnie's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Birnie painting is $2,046.
What is William Birnie's auction record?
William Birnie's auction record is $3,796, set in 2026.
See the full William Birnie record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Birnie on OpeningBid →