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

# Yuan Kewen (1889–1931)

## What is Yuan Kewen’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 178 auction results for Yuan Kewen at 19 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $1,412 including buyer’s premium (middle half $467–$4,664, n=32). The auction record is $129,849 for 臨歐陽詢〈皇甫君碑〉 (2021, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 臨歐陽詢〈皇甫君碑〉, 1916 | Ink on paper, set of four, hanging scrolls | $129,849 | Sotheby's | Apr 2021 |
| 2 | 行书七言诗 镜心, 1925 | 行书七言诗 (Running script seven-character poem) | $55,484 | Beijing Ginza Auction (北京银座拍卖) | Jun 2024 |
| 3 | 隶书五言联 | Ink on paper | $44,791 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Oct 2020 |
| 4 | Eight Lyrics of Butterflies Chasing Flowers | Ink on paper | $36,689 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Jul 2022 |
| 5 | 松山泉壑·行书寒云词, 1925 | Ink on fan | $35,103 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Oct 2013 |
| 6 | Calligraphy Couplet in Xingshu | Ink on paper, pair of hanging scrolls | $33,930 | Sotheby's | Nov 2024 |
| 7 | Calligraphy Couplet in Zhuanshu | Ink on paper, pair of hanging scrolls | $33,139 | Sotheby's | Oct 2026 |
| 8 | Butterfly Love: Eight Poems (Die Lian Hua Ba Shou) | Calligraphy | $31,369 | Poly Auction Hong Kong (保利香港拍賣) | Jul 2022 |
| 9 | Five-character Calligraphic Couplet in Seal Script, 1889 | A pair of hanging scrolls, ink on paper | $28,757 | Christie's | Nov 2018 |
| 10 | five-characters calligraphic couplet in running script | Ink on golden-flecked paper | $24,962 | Beijing Poly International Auction (北京保利国际拍卖) | Jun 2021 |


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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Works on paper | 42 | $9,712 |
| Other | 25 | $1,771 |
| Paintings | 5 | $1,391 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 13 | $10,433 |
| Large (over 120 cm) | 33 | $5,757 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 8 | $1,060 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 178 results from 19 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Yuan Kewen is a Chinese artist with 232 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $4,723. 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 Yuan Kewen sold in 2026 for $42,408, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Yuan Kewen work worth?

Across 178 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yuan Kewen work is $4,723.

The median Yuan Kewen work on paper sells for $6,343 across 84 lots.

The median Yuan Kewen painting sells for $1,270 across 6 lots.

The median Yuan Kewen print sells for $5,527 across 3 lots.

Large (over 120 cm) Yuan Kewen work on papers typically sell for $1,691–$22,852 (the middle half of 42 sold 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 3 | $5,527‡ | $8,232‡ | — | 2025-09-10 |
| Paintings | 6 | $1,270 | $36,689 | — | 2026-07-19 |
| Works on Paper | 94 | $6,343‡ | $149,550‡ | 89.4% | 2026-10-09 |
| Photography | 1 | $3,735 | $3,735 | — | 2022-08-14 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $78,711†‡ | $149,550‡ | — | 2024-06-19 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Yuan Kewen's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (3 lots) median $5,527. Paintings (6 lots) median $1,270, record $36,689. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $78,711.

## Price by size

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 9 | $1,477–$3,678‡ | $1,796‡ | $66,117‡ |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 14 | $1,683–$15,884‡ | $8,288‡ | $28,757 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 42 | $1,691–$22,852‡ | $7,059‡ | $149,550‡ |

‡ 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 | 2021 | $149,550‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $129,849 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $36,689 |
| Prints & Editions | 2020 | $8,232‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $5,527‡ |
| Photography | 2022 | $3,735 |
| Paintings | 2021 | $3,370 |

‡ 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 Yuan Kewen worth?

Across 178 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Yuan Kewen work is $4,723. The median Yuan Kewen work on paper sells for $6,343 across 84 lots. The median Yuan Kewen painting sells for $1,270 across 6 lots. The median Yuan Kewen print sells for $5,527 across 3 lots. Large (over 120 cm) Yuan Kewen work on papers typically sell for $1,691–$22,852 (the middle half of 42 sold 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 Yuan Kewen work on paper?

Based on 84 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Yuan Kewen work on paper is $6,343. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Yuan Kewen's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Yuan Kewen work on paper is $149,550. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a large Yuan Kewen work on paper?

Based on 42 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Yuan Kewen work on paper (large (over 120 cm)) is $7,059, 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 Yuan Kewen work on paper?

Based on 14 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Yuan Kewen work on paper (medium (50–120 cm)) is $8,288, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are not yet basis-verified (premium-inclusive or hammer).

### What is Yuan Kewen's auction record?

Yuan Kewen's auction record is $149,550, set in 2021. 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, “Yuan Kewen auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/yuan-kewen (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.