> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-black · updated 2026-11-03

# William Black

## What is William Black’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 137 auction results for William Black at 10 houses since 2013. Over the last 24 months the median price was $768 including buyer’s premium (middle half $488–$960, n=5). The auction record is $2,966 for A sketchbook containing 30 ink and (2026, Cheffins Fine Art). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A sketchbook containing 30 ink and, 20th century | A sketchbook containing 30 ink and watercolour drawings | $2,966 | Cheffins Fine Art | May 2026 |
| 2 | Abstract, 20TH CENTURY | Oil on canvas | $1,122 | Chiswick Auctions | Jul 2022 |
| 3 | Midsummer Eve's Minotaur, 1971 | Midsummer Eve's Minotaur signed and dated 'William Black 71' (lower right) oil on board, unframed | $960 | Cheffins Fine Art | May 2026 |
| 4 | Boats at their Moorings, 1970 | Boats at their Moorings signed and dated 'William Black 70' (lower right) oil on board | $768 | Cheffins Fine Art | May 2026 |
| 5 | Habour Moon, 1970 | Habour Moon signed and dated 'William Black 70' (lower right) oil on board | $488 | Cheffins Fine Art | May 2026 |
| 6 | A Different Light, 1970 | A Different Light signed and dated 'William Black 70' (lower right) oil on board | $454 | Cheffins Fine Art | May 2026 |
| 7 | GREEN EYED WOMAN IN A WOOD, 1968 | Group of works on paper | $334 | Sworders | Jan 2015 |
| 8 | Docquets of Letters Patent and other Instruments Passed under the Great Seal of King Charles I at Oxford in the years 1642-6, 1836 | Conte | $62 | Bonhams | Jul 2013 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 5 | $768 |


Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 137 results from 10 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Black is a British artist with 144 auction lots recorded since 2013, median price $334. 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 William Black sold in 2026 for $556, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William Black work worth?

Across 131 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Black work is $334.

The median William Black work on paper sells for $230 across 53 lots.

The median William Black sculpture sells for $536 across 39 lots.

The median William Black painting sells for $454 across 33 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) William Black work on papers typically sell for $170–$329 (the middle half of 49 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) William Black sculptures typically sell for $339–$869 (the middle half of 36 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 | 5 | $110†‡ | $484† | — | 2024-04-15 |
| Paintings | 34 | $454†‡ | $1,844† | 97.1% | 2026-05-21 |
| Works on Paper | 61 | $230†‡ | $2,966 | 86.9% | 2026-06-02 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 40 | $536† | $1,668† | 97.5% | 2025-02-27 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $1,668† | $2,966 | — | 2026-10-22 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

William Black's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $110. Paintings (34 lots) median $454, record $1,844. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $1,844 (buyer's premium not included). A typical William Black painting sells for around 4.1× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $1,668.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 13 | $228–$454† | $292† | $555† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 20 | $263–$1,000†‡ | $649†‡ | $1,844† |

† 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) | 49 | $170–$329†‡ | $219†‡ | $2,966 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 36 | $339–$869† | $515† | $1,668† |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $2,966 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $1,844† |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2020 | $1,668† |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $1,419† |
| Paintings | 2023 | $1,332† |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $709† |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $484† |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $259† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 William Black worth?

Across 131 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Black work is $334. The median William Black work on paper sells for $230 across 53 lots. The median William Black sculpture sells for $536 across 39 lots. The median William Black painting sells for $454 across 33 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Black work on papers typically sell for $170–$329 (the middle half of 49 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) William Black sculptures typically sell for $339–$869 (the middle half of 36 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 William Black work on paper?

Based on 53 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Black work on paper is $230. 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 Black's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Black work on paper is $2,966.

### What is the average price of a William Black sculpture?

Based on 39 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Black sculpture is $536. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William Black's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Black sculpture is $1,668. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $1,668 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a William Black painting?

Based on 33 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Black painting is $454. 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 Black's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Black painting is $1,844. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $1,844 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a small William Black work on paper?

Based on 49 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Black work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $219, 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 William Black sculpture?

Based on 36 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Black sculpture (small (under 50 cm)) is $515, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William Black's auction record?

William Black's auction record is $2,966, set in 2026.

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “William Black auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-black (updated 2026-11-03).

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.