William Dobell (1899–1970)
What is William Dobell’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 239 auction results for William Dobell at 10 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $6,439 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,249–$16,452, n=72). The auction record is $581,721 for Helena Rubinstein (2025, Smith & Singer). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helena Rubinstein, 1963 | Oil on composition board | $581,721 | Smith & Singer | Nov 2025 |
| 2 | Young man sleeping, c.1936 | Oil on board | $363,983 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2025 |
| 3 | Young man sleeping, 1936 | Oil on board | $335,074 | Deutscher and Hackett | Aug 2025 |
| 4 | DAVID CHAMBERS, 1946 | Oil on composition board | $77,534 | Deutscher and Hackett | Mar 2017 |
| 5 | CHARLES LLOYD JONES, c.1951 | Oil on composition board | $74,338 | Deutscher and Hackett | May 2012 |
| 6 | Emmy, 1960 | Oil and enamel on composition board | $67,187 | Deutscher and Hackett | Jun 2026 |
| 7 | The Boy George, c.1928 | Oil on canvas | $61,588 | Deutscher and Hackett | Jun 2026 |
| 8 | Mother and Child, 1942 | Oil on wood | $58,370 | Smith & Singer | Apr 2026 |
| 9 | The Berry Pickers, 1947 | Oil | $54,190 | Shapiro Auctioneers | May 2024 |
| 10 | Woman at a Window, 1936 | Oil on wood | $53,880 | Smith & Singer | Apr 2026 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 45 | $20,824 |
| Other | 36 | $5,767 |
| Works on paper | 39 | $3,140 |
| Prints | 6 | $1,043 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 10 | $33,651 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 92 | $9,446 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 239 results from 10 houses · How we compute these figures
William Dobell is an Australian artist with 322 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $8,926. 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 Dobell sold in 2026 for $18,779, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full William Dobell record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Dobell on OpeningBid →What is a William Dobell work worth?
Across 233 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Dobell work is $8,926.
The median William Dobell painting sells for $21,097 across 105 lots.
The median William Dobell work on paper sells for $2,615 across 63 lots.
The median William Dobell print sells for $67 across 5 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) William Dobell paintings typically sell for $9,321–$30,534 (the middle half of 84 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) William Dobell work on papers typically sell for $1,142–$4,035 (the middle half of 57 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 | $67† | $6,500 | — | 2016-10-27 |
| Paintings | 121 | $21,097†‡ | $673,011† | 86.8% | 2026-08-25 |
| Works on Paper | 72 | $2,615†‡ | $21,180 | 87.5% | 2026-06-17 |
| Photography | 1 | $914† | $914† | — | 2016-09-22 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 12 | $259,996† | $673,011† | — | 2025-11-25 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
William Dobell's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $67. Paintings (121 lots) median $21,097, record $673,011. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $673,011 (buyer's premium not included). A typical William Dobell painting sells for around 317× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 12 lots) the median is $259,996.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $66–$4,000† | $67† | $6,500 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 84 | $9,321–$30,534†‡ | $18,693†‡ | $673,011† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $26,328–$67,539† | $48,714† | $581,721 |
† 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) | 57 | $1,142–$4,035†‡ | $2,615†‡ | $21,180 |
† 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 | 2019 | $673,011† |
| Paintings | 2025 | $581,721 |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $21,180 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $16,837‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $6,500 |
| Prints & Editions | 2016 | $4,000 |
| Photography | 2016 | $914† |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Dobell worth?
Across 233 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Dobell work is $8,926. The median William Dobell painting sells for $21,097 across 105 lots. The median William Dobell work on paper sells for $2,615 across 63 lots. The median William Dobell print sells for $67 across 5 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Dobell paintings typically sell for $9,321–$30,534 (the middle half of 84 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) William Dobell work on papers typically sell for $1,142–$4,035 (the middle half of 57 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 Dobell painting?
Based on 105 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Dobell painting is $21,097. 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 Dobell's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Dobell painting is $673,011. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $673,011 (buyer's premium not included).
What is the average price of a William Dobell work on paper?
Based on 63 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Dobell work on paper is $2,615. 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 Dobell's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Dobell work on paper is $21,180.
What is the average price of a small William Dobell painting?
Based on 84 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Dobell painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $18,693, 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 Dobell work on paper?
Based on 57 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Dobell work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $2,615, 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 Dobell's auction record?
William Dobell's auction record is $673,011, set in 2019. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $673,011 (buyer's premium not included).
See the full William Dobell record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Dobell on OpeningBid →