> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yan-xishan · updated 2026-11-03

# Yan Xishan (1883–1960)

## What is Yan Xishan’s work worth? {#value}

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.

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

| # | 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 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 12 | $2,329 |
| Works on paper | 8 | $816 |

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

| 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](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Yan Xishan is a Chinese artist with 79 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 $4,876, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Yan Xishan work worth?

Across 66 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 $940 across 21 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 | 22 | $940†‡ | $24,083 | 95.5% | 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) | 10 | $728–$1,586‡ | $835‡ | $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. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Yan Xishan worth?

Across 66 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 $940 across 21 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 21 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yan Xishan work on paper is $940. 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 10 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Yan Xishan work on paper (large (over 120 cm)) is $835, 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.

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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, “Yan Xishan auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yan-xishan (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.