Yan Xishan (1883–1960)
What is Yan Xishan’s work worth?
As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 66 auction results for Yan Xishan at 13 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $2,243 including buyer’s premium (middle half $294–$6,378, n=8). The auction record is $24,083 for CALLIGRAPHY IN XINGSHU (2011, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CALLIGRAPHY IN XINGSHU, 1916 | Ink on paper, hanging scroll | $24,083 | Sotheby's | Oct 2011 |
| 2 | Calligraphy-Guqin Pavilion, 1883 | Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper | $17,721 | Christie's | Oct 2005 |
| 3 | Su Shi's Poetry in Running Script | Hanging scroll | $14,954 | Beijing Ginza Auction (北京银座拍卖) | Dec 2025 |
| 4 | 行书五言诗 | Hanging scroll | $10,883 | Beijing Ginza Auction (北京银座拍卖) | Jun 2025 |
| 5 | Letter from Yan Xishan to Li Zongren | Letter | $7,262 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Dec 2011 |
| 6 | On Education | Calligraphy | $4,876 | Beijing Ginza Auction (北京银座拍卖) | Dec 2025 |
| 7 | 阎锡山 行书 | Ink on paper | $3,801 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Mar 2025 |
| 8 | 阎锡山 行书 纸本 | 镜心 | $3,165 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | Mar 2021 |
| 9 | 山西六政三事汇编六卷 | Book | $2,857 | Beijing Rongbao Auction (北京荣宝拍卖) | Jun 2021 |
| 10 | 1946年作 南京光华照相馆 阎锡山签赠照, 1946 | Photograph | $2,856 | China Sungari International Auction (中贸圣佳国际拍卖) | Jun 2024 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 12 | $2,329 |
| Works on paper | 8 | $816 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 6 | $1,925 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $820 |
Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 66 results from 13 houses · How we compute these figures
Yan Xishan is a Chinese artist with 81 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $2,856. 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 Yan Xishan sold in 2025 for $14,954, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Yan Xishan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Yan Xishan on OpeningBid →What is a Yan Xishan work worth?
Across 68 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yan Xishan work is $2,856.
The median Yan Xishan work on paper sells for $1,048 across 23 lots.
The median Yan Xishan photograph sells for $3,057 across 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 24 | $1,048†‡ | $24,083 | 95.8% | 2026-09-13 |
| Photography | 6 | $3,057‡ | $3,257‡ | — | 2024-06-11 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Works on Paper
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $592–$5,948†‡ | $1,792†‡ | $17,721 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 11 | $746–$2,406‡ | $850‡ | $3,930‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ 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 | $24,083 |
| Works on Paper | 2005 | $17,721 |
| Photography | 2012 | $3,257‡ |
| Photography | 2024 | $2,856 |
‡ 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 Yan Xishan worth?
Across 68 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yan Xishan work is $2,856. The median Yan Xishan work on paper sells for $1,048 across 23 lots. The median Yan Xishan photograph sells for $3,057 across 6 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 Yan Xishan work on paper?
Based on 23 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yan Xishan work on paper is $1,048. 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 Yan Xishan's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Yan Xishan work on paper is $24,083.
What is the average price of a large Yan Xishan work on paper?
Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Yan Xishan work on paper (large (over 120 cm)) is $850, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).
What is Yan Xishan's auction record?
Yan Xishan's auction record is $24,083, set in 2011.
See the full Yan Xishan record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Yan Xishan on OpeningBid →