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

# William Roberts (1895–1980)

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

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 123 auction results for William Roberts at 11 houses since 1998. Over the last 24 months the median price was $9,111 including buyer’s premium (middle half $6,008–$12,467, n=6). The auction record is $1,099,455 for Primrose Hill, The Playground (2016, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primrose Hill, The Playground, 1930 | Oil paint | $1,099,455 | Christie's | Jun 2016 |
| 2 | War Celebrations, 1895 | Ink | $636,349 | Christie's | Jun 2016 |
| 3 | The Interval, 1923 | Pencil and black chalk on paper | $632,633 | Sotheby's | Nov 2022 |
| 4 | The Wiring Party, 1919 | Watercolor | $516,665 | Christie's | Jan 2020 |
| 5 | The Leave Train, 1916 | Pencil | $468,066 | Christie's | Nov 2016 |
| 6 | Women Playing with Cats, 1895 | Watercolour | $431,905 | Bonhams | Nov 2020 |
| 7 | Women Playing with Cats, 1895 | Pencil, ink, watercolour and gouache | $431,905 | Bonhams | Nov 2020 |
| 8 | The Bowling Alley, 1927 | Oil paint | $391,607 | Christie's | Nov 2013 |
| 9 | St George and the Dragon, 1915 | Pencil | $293,046 | Christie's | Mar 2023 |
| 10 | Munitions Factory, 1895 | Watercolour | $265,915 | Bonhams | Nov 2020 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 21 | $54,419 |
| Works on paper | 37 | $31,702 |
| Other | 52 | $16,734 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 24 | $41,740 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 77 | $17,480 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 123 results from 11 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Roberts is a British (modern) artist with 144 auction lots recorded since 1998, median price $24,203. 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 Roberts sold in 2024 for $42,654, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William Roberts work worth?

Across 123 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Roberts work is $24,203.

The median William Roberts work on paper sells for $16,040 across 72 lots.

The median William Roberts painting sells for $47,782 across 34 lots.

The median William Roberts print sells for $468 across 3 lots.

Small (under 50 cm) William Roberts work on papers typically sell for $6,437–$38,179 (the middle half of 62 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 | 4 | $468† | $1,604 | 75% | 2026-02-18 |
| Paintings | 41 | $47,782† | $1.1M | 82.9% | 2025-11-24 |
| Works on Paper | 78 | $16,040‡ | $636,349 | 92.3% | 2026-06-24 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 20 | $265,915 | $1.1M | — | 2023-03-21 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

William Roberts's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (4 lots) median $468 with 75% sell-through. Paintings (41 lots) median $47,782, record $1,099,455. A typical William Roberts painting sells for around 102× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 20 lots) the median is $265,915.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $27,370–$79,710 | $42,206 | $431,905 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 16 | $29,657–$88,650 | $48,935 | $391,607 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 62 | $6,437–$38,179‡ | $14,791‡ | $636,349 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 7 | $15,514–$81,258 | $18,228 | $632,633 |

‡ 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 | 2016 | $1.1M |
| Works on Paper | 2016 | $636,349 |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $632,633 |
| Paintings | 2020 | $431,905 |
| Prints & Editions | 2026 | $1,604 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $468 |

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 Roberts worth?

Across 123 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Roberts work is $24,203. The median William Roberts work on paper sells for $16,040 across 72 lots. The median William Roberts painting sells for $47,782 across 34 lots. The median William Roberts print sells for $468 across 3 lots. Small (under 50 cm) William Roberts work on papers typically sell for $6,437–$38,179 (the middle half of 62 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 Roberts work on paper?

Based on 72 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Roberts work on paper is $16,040. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is William Roberts's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Roberts work on paper is $636,349.

### What is the average price of a William Roberts painting?

Based on 34 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Roberts painting is $47,782. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is William Roberts's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Roberts painting is $1,099,455.

### What is the average price of a small William Roberts work on paper?

Based on 62 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Roberts work on paper (small (under 50 cm)) is $14,791, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is the average price of a medium William Roberts painting?

Based on 16 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Roberts painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $48,935, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

### What is William Roberts's auction record?

William Roberts's auction record is $1,099,455, set in 2016.

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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 Roberts auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-roberts (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.