William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare is a British (modern) artist with 53 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $4,273. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page.
A work by William Shakespeare sold in 2025 for $8,619, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full William Shakespeare record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Shakespeare on OpeningBid →What is a William Shakespeare work worth?
Across 48 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Shakespeare work is $4,273.
The median William Shakespeare photograph sells for $3,197 across 14 lots.
The median William Shakespeare print sells for $3,683 across 14 lots.
The median William Shakespeare work on paper sells for $6,573 across 5 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 | 15 | $3,683 | $197,193 | 93.3% | 2025-07-10 |
| Works on Paper | 5 | $6,573 | $62,444 | — | 2019-12-11 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $51,712 | $98,596 | — | 2023-12-12 |
| Photography | 17 | $3,197 | $103,700 | 82.4% | 2021-06-24 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $146,401 | $197,193 | — | 2025-07-10 |
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $3,163–$12,235 | $3,683 | $197,193 |
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $6,244–$26,292 | $6,573 | $62,444 |
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $197,193 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $180,760 |
| Photography | 2009 | $103,700 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $98,596 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $62,444 |
| Photography | 2009 | $35,216 |
| Works on Paper | 2019 | $26,292 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2023 | $4,828 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a William Shakespeare worth?
Across 48 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Shakespeare work is $4,273. The median William Shakespeare photograph sells for $3,197 across 14 lots. The median William Shakespeare print sells for $3,683 across 14 lots. The median William Shakespeare work on paper sells for $6,573 across 5 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 Shakespeare photograph?
Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Shakespeare photograph is $3,197.
What is William Shakespeare's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Shakespeare photograph is $103,700.
What is the average price of a William Shakespeare print?
Based on 14 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Shakespeare print is $3,683.
What is William Shakespeare's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a William Shakespeare print is $197,193.
What is the average price of a small William Shakespeare print?
Based on 14 sold lots, the median auction price of a small William Shakespeare print (small (under 50 cm)) is $3,683, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is William Shakespeare's auction record?
William Shakespeare's auction record is $197,193, set in 2019.
See the full William Shakespeare record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View William Shakespeare on OpeningBid →