William McCance (1894–1974)
What is William McCance’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 47 auction results for William McCance at 5 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $982 including buyer’s premium (middle half $473–$1,740, n=26). The auction record is $5,286 for Tree Trunk Composition (2014, Bonhams). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tree Trunk Composition, 1894 | Oil on canvas | $5,286 | Bonhams | Dec 2014 |
| 2 | Reclining Giant, 1945 | Signed and dated '45 lower right, watercolour wax resist and pencil | $3,350 | Lyon & Turnbull | Oct 2024 |
| 3 | TENT SHELTER ON THE LAWN, SUMMERHILL, LYME REGIS | <p>Signed with initials and dated '24, oil on board</p> | $3,151 | Lyon & Turnbull | Dec 2025 |
| 4 | The Gods, 1928 | Pencil | $2,398 | Roseberys London | Sep 2018 |
| 5 | The Awakening, 1925 | Pencil | $2,176 | Christie's | Jul 2016 |
| 6 | SELF PORTRAIT - 1962 | <p>Signed with initials and dated upper left, further signed, inscribed with titled and dated verso, oil on board </p> | $2,141 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jun 2025 |
| 7 | STILL LIFE - 1947 | <p>Signed and dated lower right, oil on board </p> | $2,141 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jun 2025 |
| 8 | LUCY READING, 1927 | <p>Signed and dated 1927, pencil</p> | $2,100 | Lyon & Turnbull | Dec 2025 |
| 9 | SEATED WOMAN | <p>Pencil, authenticated by the Artist's widow, Dr Margaret McCance, on the label verso</p> | $2,100 | Lyon & Turnbull | Dec 2025 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ABSTRACT FIGURE, 1927 | Signed and dated lower left, pen on tracing paper, and a companion, a woodcut, signed and dated 1930 in pencil to margin lower left, inscribed with title 'Machine Gods' lower right | $4,146 | Lyon & Turnbull | Jun 2023 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 7 | $2,100 |
| Paintings | 10 | $1,696 |
| Works on paper | 19 | $571 |
| Prints | 7 | $502 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 5 | $1,607 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 41 | $982 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 47 results from 5 houses · How we compute these figures
William McCance is a British (modern) artist with 50 auction lots recorded since 2000, median price $952. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.
A work by William McCance sold in 2025 for $2,100, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full William McCance record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William McCance on OpeningBid →What is a William McCance work worth?
Across 46 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William McCance work is $952.
The median William McCance work on paper sells for $637 across 24 lots.
The median William McCance painting sells for $1,696 across 10 lots.
The median William McCance sculpture sells for $982 across 6 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) William McCance work on papers typically sell for $443–$1,710 (the middle half of 23 sold lots).
Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 6 | $491† | $921 | — | 2024-10-02 |
| Paintings | 10 | $1,696 | $3,151 | — | 2025-12-04 |
| Works on Paper | 27 | $637 | $3,350 | 88.9% | 2025-12-04 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 6 | $982 | $4,146 | — | 2025-06-25 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $3,350 | $4,146 | — | 2025-12-04 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
William McCance's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (6 lots) median $491. Paintings (10 lots) median $1,696, record $3,151. A typical William McCance painting sells for around 3.5× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $3,350.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $446–$628† | $491† | $921 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $1,292–$2,141 | $1,651 | $3,151 |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 23 | $443–$1,710 | $703 | $3,350 |
Sculpture & Installation
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $982–$1,257 | $982 | $4,146 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $4,146 |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $3,350 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $3,151 |
| Works on Paper | 2018 | $2,398 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $2,141 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $1,257 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $921 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $670 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William McCance worth?
Across 46 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William McCance work is $952. The median William McCance work on paper sells for $637 across 24 lots. The median William McCance painting sells for $1,696 across 10 lots. The median William McCance sculpture sells for $982 across 6 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William McCance work on papers typically sell for $443–$1,710 (the middle half of 23 sold lots). Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is the average price of a William McCance work on paper?
Based on 24 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William McCance work on paper is $637.
What is William McCance's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William McCance work on paper is $3,350.
What is the average price of a small William McCance work on paper?
Based on 23 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William McCance work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $703, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is William McCance's auction record?
William McCance's auction record is $4,146, set in 2023.
See the full William McCance record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William McCance on OpeningBid →