Wu Dacheng (1835–1902)
What is Wu Dacheng’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 413 auction results for Wu Dacheng at 27 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $5,742 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,384–$16,084, n=31). The auction record is $691,434 for Calligraphy Couplet in Zhuanshu (2015, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calligraphy Couplet in Zhuanshu, 1885 | Ink on paper, pair of hanging scrolls | $691,434 | Sotheby's | Apr 2015 |
| 2 | 吴大澂 篆书 册页 | 篆书 册页 | $245,681 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Apr 2015 |
| 3 | LANDSCAPE IMITATING DAI XI, 1894 | Ink on paper, handscroll | $156,893 | Sotheby's | Apr 2011 |
| 4 | Studio under the Vines, 1871 | Ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll | $152,163 | Sotheby's | Oct 2014 |
| 5 | Poems on Lingnan Fruits, 1889 | Ink on paper, album of 12 leaves | $145,606 | Sotheby's | Apr 2023 |
| 6 | Landscape handscroll after Dai Wenjie | 水墨纸本 | $140,878 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2015 |
| 7 | Poem Manuscripts of Ke Zhai | 纸本 | $133,386 | Xiling Yinshe Auction (西泠印社拍卖) | Dec 2018 |
| 8 | Letters to Pan Zuyin | Ink on paper, album of 26 leaves | $128,408 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| 9 | Seal Script Calligraphy, 1835 | Hanging scrolls | $128,173 | Christie's | Nov 2017 |
| 10 | Aphorism in Xingshu | Ink on paper, handscoll | $120,383 | Sotheby's | Oct 2022 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 72 | $16,003 |
| Other | 62 | $7,941 |
| Paintings | 5 | $1,739 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 35 | $10,000 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 21 | $9,268 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 37 | $7,347 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 413 results from 27 houses · How we compute these figures
Wu Dacheng is a Chinese artist with 539 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $8,207. 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 Wu Dacheng sold in 2026 for $39,203, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Wu Dacheng record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Wu Dacheng on OpeningBid →What is a Wu Dacheng work worth?
Across 413 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wu Dacheng work is $8,207.
The median Wu Dacheng work on paper sells for $10,175 across 148 lots.
The median Wu Dacheng painting sells for $5,133 across 16 lots.
The median Wu Dacheng print sells for $1,233 across 5 lots.
Large (over 120 cm) Wu Dacheng work on papers typically sell for $4,450–$19,998 (the middle half of 46 sold lots).
Medium (50–120 cm) Wu Dacheng work on papers typically sell for $1,965–$18,574 (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 | 5 | $1,233‡ | $5,246 | — | 2024-06-13 |
| Paintings | 19 | $5,133‡ | $111,323‡ | 84.2% | 2026-04-24 |
| Works on Paper | 158 | $10,175‡ | $691,434 | 93.7% | 2026-05-10 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 16 | $143,242‡ | $691,434 | — | 2024-06-19 |
‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Wu Dacheng's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (5 lots) median $1,233. Paintings (19 lots) median $5,133, record $111,323. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. A typical Wu Dacheng painting sells for around 4.2× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 16 lots) the median is $143,242.
Price by size
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 26 | $2,594–$16,137‡ | $9,148‡ | $345,315 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 36 | $1,965–$18,574‡ | $8,054‡ | $81,155 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 46 | $4,450–$19,998‡ | $9,394‡ | $140,878 |
‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 2015 | $691,434 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $345,315 |
| Paintings | 2015 | $111,323‡ |
| Paintings | 2015 | $36,852 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $5,246 |
| Prints & Editions | 2024 | $1,907 |
‡ 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 Wu Dacheng worth?
Across 413 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wu Dacheng work is $8,207. The median Wu Dacheng work on paper sells for $10,175 across 148 lots. The median Wu Dacheng painting sells for $5,133 across 16 lots. The median Wu Dacheng print sells for $1,233 across 5 lots. Large (over 120 cm) Wu Dacheng work on papers typically sell for $4,450–$19,998 (the middle half of 46 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Wu Dacheng work on papers typically sell for $1,965–$18,574 (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 Wu Dacheng work on paper?
Based on 148 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wu Dacheng work on paper is $10,175. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Wu Dacheng's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wu Dacheng work on paper is $691,434.
What is the average price of a Wu Dacheng painting?
Based on 16 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wu Dacheng painting is $5,133. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Wu Dacheng's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Wu Dacheng painting is $111,323. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
What is the average price of a large Wu Dacheng work on paper?
Based on 46 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Wu Dacheng work on paper (large (over 120 cm)) is $9,394, 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 Wu Dacheng work on paper?
Based on 36 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Wu Dacheng work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,054, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Wu Dacheng's auction record?
Wu Dacheng's auction record is $691,434, set in 2015.
See the full Wu Dacheng record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Wu Dacheng on OpeningBid →