Yu Da-fu (1896–1945)
What is Yu Da-fu’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 47 auction results for Yu Da-fu at 16 houses since 1997. Over the last 24 months the median price was $646 including buyer’s premium (middle half $610–$815, n=6). The auction record is $145,159 for Calligraphy-A Self-composed Poem (2020, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calligraphy-A Self-composed Poem, 1896 | Ink | $145,159 | Christie's | Jul 2020 |
| 2 | Poems in Xingshu | Ink on paper, hanging scroll | $117,055 | Sotheby's | Oct 2020 |
| 3 | Seven-character Calligraphic Couplet in Standard Script, 1896 | Hanging scrolls | $72,140 | Christie's | Nov 2021 |
| 4 | 行书五言诗 | 水墨纸本 | $55,288 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Oct 2012 |
| 5 | POEM IN XINGSHU | Ink on paper, hanging scroll | $25,721 | Sotheby's | Oct 2007 |
| 6 | 藏宝楼 | Calligraphy on plaque | $6,036 | China Zhonghongxin International Auction | Nov 2024 |
| 7 | 祝冯焕章六旬寿诗 | Calligraphy | $5,999 | Beijing Hanhai Auction (北京翰海拍卖) | Jun 2013 |
| 8 | 汪水云诗词 | 水墨纸本 | $4,849 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jul 2016 |
| 9 | 郁达夫 行书 | 纸本 | $1,102 | China Guardian (中国嘉德) | Oct 2023 |
| 10 | 郁达夫 行书, 1936 | Ink on paper | $869 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jan 2025 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 8 | $13,295 |
| Other | 10 | $851 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 7 | $1,102 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 47 results from 16 houses · How we compute these figures
Yu Da-fu is a Chinese artist with 69 auction lots recorded since 1997, median price $2,089. 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 Yu Da-fu is recorded as sold in 2025 for $13,141; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Yu Da-fu record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Yu Da-fu on OpeningBid →What is a Yu Da-fu work worth?
Across 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yu Da-fu work is $2,089.
The median Yu Da-fu work on paper sells for $4,726 across 20 lots.
The median Yu Da-fu painting sells for $3,077 across 1 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 | 1 | $3,077‡ | $3,077‡ | — | 2017-07-06 |
| Works on Paper | 23 | $4,726†‡ | $145,159 | 87% | 2026-09-13 |
† 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) | 9 | $869–$5,818†‡ | $4,726†‡ | $117,055 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $517–$67,927‡ | $27,926‡ | $145,159 |
† 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 | 2020 | $145,159 |
| Works on Paper | 2020 | $117,055 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $3,077‡ |
‡ 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 Yu Da-fu worth?
Across 47 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yu Da-fu work is $2,089. The median Yu Da-fu work on paper sells for $4,726 across 20 lots. The median Yu Da-fu painting sells for $3,077 across 1 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 Yu Da-fu work on paper?
Based on 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yu Da-fu work on paper is $4,726. 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 Yu Da-fu's most expensive work on paper?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Yu Da-fu work on paper is $145,159.
What is Yu Da-fu's auction record?
Yu Da-fu's auction record is $145,159, set in 2020.
See the full Yu Da-fu record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Yu Da-fu on OpeningBid →