> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/wu-shixian-2 · updated 2026-11-03

# Wu Shixian (1845–1916)

## What is Wu Shixian’s work worth? {#value}

As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 268 auction results for Wu Shixian at 15 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,113 including buyer’s premium (middle half $557–$2,029, n=13). The auction record is $22,230 for Return From Cutting (2024, Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖)). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Return From Cutting, 1886 | Ink and color on paper | $22,230 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | May 2024 |
| 2 | Set of Four Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Plaques, China, 20th century, each depicting landscapes with mountains, rivers, bridges, boa, 20th century | Famille rose porcelain | $21,000 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Sep 2015 |
| 3 | Scenery of Spring Mountain, 1914 | Ink and colour and paper, hanging scroll | $17,842 | Sotheby's | Oct 2023 |
| 4 | Landscapes, 1902 | Ink and colour on paper, set of four hanging scrolls | $11,438 | Sotheby's | Jun 2026 |
| 5 | An album of twelve leaves of landscapes Wu Shixian (1845-1916) | 吳石僲（1845-1916年） 山水冊頁十二開 設色紙本, 1915 | Ink and colour on paper | $10,121 | Sotheby's | May 2022 |
| 6 | Landscape, 1906年作 | 设色纸本 | $9,953 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Nov 2018 |
| 7 | Autumn Mountain Sunset, 1916 | Hanging scroll | $8,423 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2014 |
| 8 | Autumn Forest at Sunset, 1902 | Hanging scroll | $7,912 | Duoyunxuan Auction (上海朵云轩拍卖) | Jun 2024 |
| 9 | Blue and green landscape, 1910 | Painting | $6,502 | Beijing Ginza Auction (北京银座拍卖) | Dec 2025 |
| 10 | Raining Landscape, 1845 | Ink and colour on paper, scroll | $6,212 | Bonhams | May 2026 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 11 | $5,234 |
| Other | 38 | $1,995 |
| Paintings | 8 | $1,495 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 10 | $2,774 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $2,458 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 16 | $759 |

Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 268 results from 15 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Wu Shixian is a Chinese artist with 354 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $1,787. 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 Shixian sold in 2026 for $11,438, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Wu Shixian work worth?

Across 268 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wu Shixian work is $1,787.

The median Wu Shixian painting sells for $1,349 across 35 lots.

The median Wu Shixian work on paper sells for $2,075 across 28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 38 | $1,349‡ | $6,502 | 92.1% | 2025-12-16 |
| Works on Paper | 35 | $2,075‡ | $22,230 | 80% | 2026-06-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $17,842‡ | $22,230 | — | 2024-05-25 |

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

## Price by size

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 6 | $1,322–$2,519‡ | $1,495‡ | $3,439‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 6 | $705–$1,231‡ | $884‡ | $2,779 |

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

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 5 | $153–$1,565‡ | $556‡ | $6,212 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $1,809–$14,978‡ | $2,075‡ | $22,230 |

‡ 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 | 2024 | $22,230 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $17,842 |
| Paintings | 2025 | $6,502 |
| Paintings | 2006 | $3,439‡ |

‡ 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 Wu Shixian worth?

Across 268 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Wu Shixian work is $1,787. The median Wu Shixian painting sells for $1,349 across 35 lots. The median Wu Shixian work on paper sells for $2,075 across 28 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 Shixian painting?

Based on 35 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wu Shixian painting is $1,349. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Wu Shixian's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Wu Shixian painting is $6,502.

### What is the average price of a Wu Shixian work on paper?

Based on 28 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Wu Shixian work on paper is $2,075. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Wu Shixian's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Wu Shixian work on paper is $22,230.

### What is Wu Shixian's auction record?

Wu Shixian's auction record is $22,230, set in 2024.

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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, “Wu Shixian auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/wu-shixian-2 (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.