> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yao-yuanzhi · updated 2026-11-02

# Yao Yuanzhi (1773–1852)

Yao Yuanzhi is a Chinese artist with 152 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $3,017. 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 Yao Yuanzhi sold in 2025 for $3,211, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Yao Yuanzhi work worth?

Across 109 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yao Yuanzhi work is $3,017.

The median Yao Yuanzhi work on paper sells for $3,211 across 37 lots.

The median Yao Yuanzhi painting sells for $2,210 across 4 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 | 5 | $2,210‡ | $3,017‡ | 80% | 2019-05-23 |
| Works on Paper | 39 | $3,211‡ | $28,935 | 94.9% | 2025-05-02 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 4 | $19,340†‡ | $28,935 | — | 2015-05-19 |

† 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) | 11 | $1,093–$3,852‡ | $1,568‡ | $11,352 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 15 | $1,786–$3,441‡ | $2,903‡ | $13,674 |

‡ 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 | $28,935 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $13,674 |
| Paintings | 2019 | $3,017‡ |
| Paintings | 2019 | $3,017‡ |

‡ 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 Yao Yuanzhi worth?

Across 109 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yao Yuanzhi work is $3,017. The median Yao Yuanzhi work on paper sells for $3,211 across 37 lots. The median Yao Yuanzhi painting sells for $2,210 across 4 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 Yao Yuanzhi work on paper?

Based on 37 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yao Yuanzhi work on paper is $3,211. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Yao Yuanzhi's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Yao Yuanzhi work on paper is $28,935.

### What is the average price of a large Yao Yuanzhi work on paper?

Based on 15 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Yao Yuanzhi work on paper (large (over 120 cm)) is $2,903, 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 Yao Yuanzhi work on paper?

Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Yao Yuanzhi work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,568, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Yao Yuanzhi's auction record?

Yao Yuanzhi's auction record is $28,935, set in 2011.

---

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

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Yao Yuanzhi auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yao-yuanzhi (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.