William Nelson Copley (1919–1996)
What is William Nelson Copley’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 173 auction results for William Nelson Copley at 25 houses since 2000. Over the last 24 months the median price was $35,539 including buyer’s premium (middle half $7,639–$92,471, n=14). The auction record is $579,600 for Gingham Girls (2022, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gingham Girls, 1965 | Oil paint | $579,600 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 2 | Capella Sextina, 1919 | Oil paint | $403,200 | Christie's | May 2022 |
| 3 | Untitled, 1994 | Painting | $313,346 | Kunsthaus Lempertz | Jun 2021 |
| 4 | Lady Windermere’s Fan, 1965 | Acrylic paint | $303,912 | Sotheby's | Feb 2021 |
| 5 | Les Etats Unis du Monde, 1962 | Öl auf Leinwand | $302,729 | Van Ham Kunstauktionen | Nov 2024 |
| 6 | Trust Lust, 1989 | Acrylic paint | $257,423 | Kunsthaus Lempertz | Dec 2020 |
| 7 | Loveland, 1919 | Huile et collage de dentelle sur toile | $198,349 | Christie's | Jun 2018 |
| 8 | Lady Be Good, 1953 | Öl auf Leinwand | $196,774 | Van Ham Kunstauktionen | Oct 2024 |
| 9 | Raw Bar, 1982 | Acrylic paint | $179,445 | Christie's | Oct 2018 |
| 10 | Untitled (oil on canvas), 1959 | Painting | $164,134 | Kunsthaus Lempertz | Jun 2021 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 79 | $68,750 |
| Other | 14 | $7,580 |
| Works on paper | 34 | $6,703 |
| Prints | 11 | $510 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 27 | $96,520 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 81 | $16,740 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 25 | $6,250 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 173 results from 25 houses · How we compute these figures
William Nelson Copley is an American artist with 197 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $19,764. 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 Nelson Copley sold in 2025 for $95,545, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
1 William Nelson Copley work is coming to auction (as of 2026-11-02). Follow William Nelson Copley free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full William Nelson Copley record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Nelson Copley on OpeningBid →What is a William Nelson Copley work worth?
Across 172 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Nelson Copley work is $19,764.
The median William Nelson Copley painting sells for $68,750 across 84 lots.
The median William Nelson Copley work on paper sells for $5,774 across 46 lots.
The median William Nelson Copley print sells for $474 across 20 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) William Nelson Copley paintings typically sell for $44,105–$119,812 (the middle half of 42 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) William Nelson Copley work on papers typically sell for $4,885–$13,137 (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 | 28 | $474†‡ | $6,420 | 71.4% | 2023-03-18 |
| Paintings | 89 | $68,750†‡ | $579,600 | 94.4% | 2025-12-04 |
| Works on Paper | 50 | $5,774†‡ | $47,500 | 92% | 2026-09-21 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $10,000 | $10,000 | — | 2014-07-24 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 31 | $134,606‡ | $579,600 | — | 2025-06-04 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
William Nelson Copley's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (28 lots) median $474 with 71.4% sell-through. Paintings (89 lots) median $68,750, record $579,600. A typical William Nelson Copley painting sells for around 145× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 31 lots) the median is $134,606.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 15 | $245–$572†‡ | $406†‡ | $938 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 12 | $21,912–$49,363†‡ | $27,773†‡ | $164,134 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 42 | $44,105–$119,812†‡ | $74,537†‡ | $313,346 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 29 | $60,000–$128,660‡ | $103,683‡ | $579,600 |
† 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) | 10 | $2,231–$4,346†‡ | $3,680†‡ | $6,250 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 36 | $4,885–$13,137†‡ | $8,729†‡ | $47,500 |
† 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 | 2022 | $579,600 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $403,200 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $47,500 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $19,768‡ |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2014 | $10,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $6,420 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $3,085 |
‡ 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 Nelson Copley worth?
Across 172 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Nelson Copley work is $19,764. The median William Nelson Copley painting sells for $68,750 across 84 lots. The median William Nelson Copley work on paper sells for $5,774 across 46 lots. The median William Nelson Copley print sells for $474 across 20 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) William Nelson Copley paintings typically sell for $44,105–$119,812 (the middle half of 42 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) William Nelson Copley work on papers typically sell for $4,885–$13,137 (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 Nelson Copley painting?
Based on 84 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Nelson Copley painting is $68,750. 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 Nelson Copley's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Nelson Copley painting is $579,600.
What is the average price of a William Nelson Copley work on paper?
Based on 46 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Nelson Copley work on paper is $5,774. 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 Nelson Copley's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Nelson Copley work on paper is $47,500.
What is the average price of a William Nelson Copley print?
Based on 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Nelson Copley print is $474. 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 Nelson Copley's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Nelson Copley print is $6,420.
What is the average price of a medium William Nelson Copley painting?
Based on 42 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Nelson Copley painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $74,537, 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 medium William Nelson Copley work on paper?
Based on 36 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Nelson Copley work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,729, 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 Nelson Copley's auction record?
William Nelson Copley's auction record is $579,600, set in 2022.
See the full William Nelson Copley record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
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