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

# William Scharf (1927–2018)

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

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 22 auction results for William Scharf at 8 houses since 2002. Over the last 24 months the median price was $532 including buyer’s premium (middle half $508–$889, n=5). The auction record is $5,000 for Whole Dawn, Half Egg, 1986 and Untitled (a pair of works) (2021, Freeman's Hindman). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Dawn, Half Egg, 1986 and Untitled (a pair of works) | Oil on masonite and tempera on paper | $5,000 | Freeman's Hindman | Sep 2021 |
| 2 | A Branch of the Egg | Oil on canvas | $4,687 | Freeman's Hindman | Sep 2021 |
| 3 | San Francisco | Oil on canvas | $4,062 | Freeman's Hindman | Sep 2021 |
| 4 | Vegetable Oracle, Grape's Elephant, A Tryst of Ulnas, Untitled, Lung Prisoner, Coronation of the Moth and Spinal Task, c. 1999-2002 (a group of 7 works) | Acrylic on cardboard paper | $4,062 | Freeman's Hindman | Sep 2021 |
| 5 | The Scratched and Unfixed Air, 2007-8 and They Thought Their Worlds of Each Other, 2008 (a pair of works) | Acrylic on paper | $3,750 | Freeman's Hindman | Sep 2021 |
| 6 | STILL LIFE, APPLE, 1959 | Oil on canvas | $3,727 | deVeres Art Auctions | Nov 2024 |
| 7 | The Relic Moves | Oil on canvas | $2,750 | Clars Auction Gallery | Jun 2023 |
| 8 | Advance on Self, 1966 | Gouache on white wove paper | $1,080 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2010 |
| 9 | Apart from Prescience, 1967 | Acrylic on paper | $1,000 | Clars Auction Gallery | Jun 2023 |
| 10 | Blue Messenger, 1981 | Acrylic on paper | $1,000 | Clars Auction Gallery | Jun 2023 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 11 | $1,000 |
| Works on paper | 8 | $960 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $1,000 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $960 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 22 results from 8 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Scharf is an American artist with 33 auction lots recorded since 2002, median price $1,000. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.

A work by William Scharf sold in 2024 for $3,727, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William Scharf work worth?

Across 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Scharf work is $1,000.

The median William Scharf painting sells for $1,000 across 10 lots.

The median William Scharf work on paper sells for $584 across 5 lots.

The median William Scharf print sells for $375 across 2 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 | 2 | $375 | $700 | — | 2023-01-11 |
| Paintings | 10 | $1,000† | $3,727 | — | 2025-09-30 |
| Works on Paper | 8 | $584 | $1,080 | 62.5% | 2026-10-15 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

William Scharf's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (2 lots) median $375. Paintings (10 lots) median $1,000, record $3,727. A typical William Scharf painting sells for around 2.7× the price of a typical print.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $907–$1,740† | $960† | $2,750 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2024 | $3,727 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $2,750 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $1,080 |
| Works on Paper | 2010 | $840 |
| Prints & Editions | 2002 | $700 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $50 |

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 Scharf worth?

Across 22 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Scharf work is $1,000. The median William Scharf painting sells for $1,000 across 10 lots. The median William Scharf work on paper sells for $584 across 5 lots. The median William Scharf print sells for $375 across 2 lots. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

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

William Scharf's auction record is $5,000, set in 2021.

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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 Scharf auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-scharf (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.