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

# William Claxton (1927–2008)

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

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 57 auction results for William Claxton at 18 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,044 including buyer’s premium (middle half $577–$2,023, n=12). The auction record is $15,120 for Peggy Moffitt in Rudi Gernreich's “Little Boy” Suit Queen Magazine” Cover, London, 1966 (2009, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peggy Moffitt in Rudi Gernreich's “Little Boy” Suit Queen Magazine” Cover, London, 1966, 1927 | Crystal archive photograph, printed 2004 | $15,120 | Christie's | May 2009 |
| 2 | Miles Davis with Cigarette, Los Angeles, 2006 | Cartes-de-visite | $6,875 | Phillips | Oct 2015 |
| 3 | Halima and Chet Baker, Redondo Beach, 1997 | Cartes-de-visite | $6,273 | Phillips | May 2015 |
| 4 | John Coltrane at the Guggenheim, New York City, 2006 | Cartes-de-visite | $6,250 | Phillips | Oct 2015 |
| 5 | Chet Baker (at the piano), Hollywood, 1988 | Cartes-de-visite | $5,532 | Phillips | May 2023 |
| 6 | John Coltrane at the Guggenheim, NYC, 1960 | Gelatin silver print | $3,315 | Bonhams | Jul 2025 |
| 7 | Hot Dog Stand, Los Angeles, 3 A.M. (Audrey's), 1961 | Gelatin silver print | $2,423 | Bonhams | Jul 2025 |
| 8 | Chet Baker and Lili, Hollywood, 1955 | Platinum print | $2,344 | Christie's | Feb 2002 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dreaming, Hollywood, 1954 | Cartes-de-visite | $5,040 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Jul 2024 |
| 2 | Dreaming, Hollywood, 1954 | Cartes-de-visite | $3,302 | Los Angeles Modern Auctions | Mar 2025 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs | 43 | $697 |
| Other | 5 | $600 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 37 | $793 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 57 results from 18 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Claxton is an American artist with 89 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $638. 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 Claxton sold in 2026 for $1,131, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William Claxton work worth?

Across 55 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Claxton work is $638.

The median William Claxton photograph sells for $638 across 53 lots.

The median William Claxton print sells for $94 across 1 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) William Claxton photographs typically sell for $366–$1,447 (the middle half of 41 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 | 2 | $94 | $94 | 50% | 2022-04-26 |
| Photography | 62 | $638†‡ | $15,120 | 85.5% | 2026-07-30 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $6,875 | $15,120 | — | 2015-10-08 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Price by size

### Photography

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 41 | $366–$1,447†‡ | $700†‡ | $6,875 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2009 | $15,120 |
| Photography | 2015 | $6,875 |
| Prints & Editions | 2022 | $94 |

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 Claxton worth?

Across 55 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Claxton work is $638. The median William Claxton photograph sells for $638 across 53 lots. The median William Claxton print sells for $94 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Claxton photographs typically sell for $366–$1,447 (the middle half of 41 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 Claxton photograph?

Based on 53 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Claxton photograph is $638. 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 Claxton's most expensive photograph?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Claxton photograph is $15,120.

### What is the average price of a small William Claxton photograph?

Based on 41 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Claxton photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $700, 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 William Claxton's auction record?

William Claxton's auction record is $15,120, set in 2009.

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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 Claxton auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-claxton (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.