> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-thomson · updated 2026-11-01

# William Thomson

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

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 46 auction results for William Thomson at 8 houses since 2007. Over the last 24 months the median price was $122 including buyer’s premium (middle half $77–$272, n=20). The auction record is $3,307 for William Thomson (1926-1988) Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Frink Signed Oil on canvas 80.5 x 64.5cm (2020, Woolley and Wallis). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Thomson (1926-1988) Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Frink Signed Oil on canvas 80.5 x 64.5cm | Oil on canvas | $3,307 | Woolley and Wallis | Aug 2020 |
| 2 | After the bath, 1926 | Oil paint | $2,316 | Christie's | Jul 2007 |
| 3 | William Thomson (1926-1988) Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Frink with her son Lin Jammet Signed Oil on | Oil on canvas | $1,479 | Woolley and Wallis | Aug 2020 |
| 4 | Chrome Horse Head | Stainless steel | $1,435 | Sworders | Jun 2021 |
| 5 | Chrome Horse Head, 1926 | Chrome Horse Headstainless steel | $1,342 | Sworders | Jun 2021 |
| 6 | William Thomson (1928-1988) Seated nude Signed, also signed and inscribed with artist~s address | Oil on canvas | $850 | Woolley and Wallis | Sep 2015 |
| 7 | Strange Room With Aquarium | Acrylic on canvas | $544 | Capsule Gallery Auction | Jan 2025 |
| 8 | Papal Balcony Scene | Acrylic on board | $480 | Capsule Gallery Auction | Apr 2024 |
| 9 | Untitled (Sailboat) | Acrylic on paper | $480 | Capsule Gallery Auction | Feb 2025 |
| 10 | Untitled Painting (Portrait of a Woman) | Oil on canvas | $480 | Capsule Gallery Auction | Sep 2024 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 27 | $192 |
| Works on paper | 9 | $128 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 31 | $192 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $77 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 46 results from 8 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


William Thomson is an American artist with 47 auction lots recorded since 2007, median price $192. 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 Thomson sold in 2025 for $448, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a William Thomson work worth?

Across 39 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Thomson work is $192.

The median William Thomson painting sells for $198 across 26 lots.

The median William Thomson work on paper sells for $122 across 6 lots.

The median William Thomson sculpture sells for $1,388 across 2 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) William Thomson paintings typically sell for $160–$456 (the middle half of 20 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 | 1 | $90 | $90 | — | 2024-11-14 |
| Paintings | 27 | $198† | $2,316 | 96.3% | 2025-04-03 |
| Works on Paper | 6 | $122‡ | $175‡ | — | 2025-02-13 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2 | $1,388 | $1,435 | — | 2021-06-02 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 3 | $2,316 | $3,307 | — | 2020-08-26 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

William Thomson's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $90. Paintings (27 lots) median $198, record $2,316. A typical William Thomson painting sells for around 2.2× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 3 lots) the median is $2,316.

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 20 | $160–$456 | $224 | $2,316 |

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $77–$128‡ | $122‡ | $175‡ |

‡ 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 | 2007 | $2,316 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $1,435 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2021 | $1,342 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $544 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $175‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $128 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $90 |

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

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 Thomson worth?

Across 39 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a William Thomson work is $192. The median William Thomson painting sells for $198 across 26 lots. The median William Thomson work on paper sells for $122 across 6 lots. The median William Thomson sculpture sells for $1,388 across 2 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) William Thomson paintings typically sell for $160–$456 (the middle half of 20 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 Thomson painting?

Based on 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a William Thomson painting is $198. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

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

The highest price recorded at auction for a William Thomson painting is $2,316.

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

Based on 20 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium William Thomson painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $224, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

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

William Thomson's auction record is $3,307, set in 2020.

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Data last updated 2026-11-01. OpeningBid tracks 15,222,099 auction lots from 571 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “William Thomson auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/william-thomson (updated 2026-11-01).

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.