> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/xu-cao-2 · updated 2026-11-02

# Xu Cao (1899–1961)

## What is Xu Cao’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 216 auction results for Xu Cao at 13 houses since 1996. Over the last 24 months the median price was $912 including buyer’s premium (middle half $637–$1,660, n=22). The auction record is $147,104 for 风尘侠侣 (2014, 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 | 风尘侠侣 | 设色纸本 | $147,104 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2014 |
| 2 | 风尘侠侣, 1940年作 | 设色纸本 | $133,158 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2019 |
| 3 | Visiting Zhuge Liang, 1946 | Ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll | $113,537 | Sotheby's | Oct 2023 |
| 4 | 风尘侠侣图 | Scroll | $92,567 | China Sungari International Auction (中贸圣佳国际拍卖) | Dec 2005 |
| 5 | Zhong Kui under Pine Tree, 1937 | Ink and colour on paper, hanging scroll | $81,098 | Sotheby's | Oct 2023 |
| 6 | 嬉戏图 | 设色纸本 | $60,511 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Dec 2010 |
| 7 | 富贵寿考图 | 轴 (hanging scroll) | $47,645 | China Sungari International Auction (中贸圣佳国际拍卖) | Dec 2005 |
| 8 | Excursion of Zhong Kui, 1943 | Ink and colour on paper, framed | $35,593 | Sotheby's | Apr 2023 |
| 9 | 人物故事 | 设色纸本 | $34,002 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Nov 2005 |
| 10 | 风尘三侠图 | 设色纸本 | $33,985 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Dec 2013 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 36 | $5,755 |
| Paintings | 11 | $3,265 |
| Works on paper | 16 | $1,526 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $3,698 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 37 | $3,496 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 216 results from 13 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Xu Cao is a Chinese artist with 316 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $6,430. 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 Xu Cao is recorded as sold in 2024 for $11,028; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Xu Cao work worth?

Across 216 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Xu Cao work is $6,430.

The median Xu Cao work on paper sells for $4,767 across 37 lots.

The median Xu Cao painting sells for $4,629 across 26 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 | 27 | $4,629‡ | $35,593 | 96.3% | 2026-09-11 |
| Works on Paper | 37 | $4,767‡ | $293,077‡ | — | 2026-06-16 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $112,386‡ | $293,077‡ | — | 2023-10-08 |

‡ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $376–$10,630‡ | $3,496‡ | $35,593 |

‡ 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) | 18 | $2,350–$11,514‡ | $6,265‡ | $61,183‡ |
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $1,264–$81,098‡ | $4,765‡ | $293,077‡ |

‡ 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 | 2011 | $293,077‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $113,537 |
| Paintings | 2023 | $35,593 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $31,503‡ |

‡ 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 Xu Cao worth?

Across 216 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Xu Cao work is $6,430. The median Xu Cao work on paper sells for $4,767 across 37 lots. The median Xu Cao painting sells for $4,629 across 26 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 Xu Cao work on paper?

Based on 37 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Xu Cao work on paper is $4,767. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Xu Cao's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Xu Cao work on paper is $293,077. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a Xu Cao painting?

Based on 26 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Xu Cao painting is $4,629. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Xu Cao's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Xu Cao painting is $35,593.

### What is the average price of a medium Xu Cao work on paper?

Based on 18 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Xu Cao work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $6,265, 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 Xu Cao painting?

Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Xu Cao painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,496, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Xu Cao's auction record?

Xu Cao's auction record is $293,077, set in 2011. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Xu Cao auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/xu-cao-2 (updated 2026-11-02).

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.