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

# William Dobell (1899–1970)

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

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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 45 | $20,824 |
| Other | 36 | $5,767 |
| Works on paper | 39 | $3,140 |
| Prints | 6 | $1,043 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


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.

## 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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## 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).

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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, “William Dobell auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-dobell (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.