What is a Contemporary work worth?
Price guide from past auction results
Half of the 262 works by Contemporary with a published auction price sold between $762Sign up free to see and $2,345Sign up free to see, and the median is $1,392Sign up free to see. In the last five years the median was $1,143Sign up free to see across 176 sales. These are past auction results, not a valuation: medium, size, condition and provenance all change what a particular work brings.
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Contemporary prices by medium
- Auction results
- 289
- Sold rate
- 95%
- Active at auction
- 2015–2026
- Median price
- $1.4kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $25.2kSign up free to see Swedish-style flatweave carpet, Wright, Mar 2024
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 34 | $1.3k–$3.8kSign up free to see | $2.3kSign up free to see |
| Sculpture | 20 | $299–$1.5kSign up free to see | $615Sign up free to see |
| Paintings | 15 | $290–$1.8kSign up free to see | $625Sign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Rago Auctions (163), Wright (50), Toomey & Co. (38)
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Typical range is the middle half of priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). Past auction results, not a valuation.
Prices by size
| Size (longest side) | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 30 cm) | 5 | $315–$832Sign up free to see | $504Sign up free to see |
| Mid-size (30–75 cm) | 18 | $572–$1.5kSign up free to see | $705Sign up free to see |
| Large (75–150 cm) | 27 | $230–$1.6kSign up free to see | $625Sign up free to see |
| Very large (over 150 cm) | 188 | $943–$2.8kSign up free to see | $1.6kSign up free to see |
Recent Contemporary sales
- Swedish-style pile carpet, hand-knotted wool — $6,400Sign up free to see, Wright, Aug 4, 2026
- Coffee table, glass, iron, brass — $192Sign up free to see, Toomey & Co., Jul 1, 2026
- Moroccan-style pile carpet, hand-knotted wool — $2,048Sign up free to see, Rago Auctions, May 13, 2026
- Moroccan-style pile carpet, hand-knotted wool — $2,261Sign up free to see, Rago Auctions, May 13, 2026
- Moroccan-style pile carpet, hand-knotted wool — $2,304Sign up free to see, Rago Auctions, May 13, 2026
- Thick pile carpet, hand-knotted wool — $960Sign up free to see, Toomey & Co., May 12, 2026
- Teapot, stoneware — $832Sign up free to see, Rago Auctions, Apr 23, 2026
- Medium pile carpet, hand-knotted wool — $1,024Sign up free to see, Toomey & Co., Mar 26, 2026
Questions about Contemporary prices
What is a Contemporary work worth?
Based on 262 priced auction sales recorded by ArtSell, works by Contemporary have sold for a median of $1,392, and half of them sold between $762 and $2,345. Medium, size, condition, subject and provenance all affect the price of a particular work; these are past auction results, not a valuation.
What is the most expensive work by Contemporary sold at auction?
The highest price in ArtSell’s records is $25,200 for “Swedish-style flatweave carpet” at Wright in March 2024.
Which Contemporary medium sells for the most?
By median price, works on paper lead with $2,250 (34 sales).
How often do Contemporary works sell at auction?
95% of the 289 lots recorded between 2015 and 2026 sold.
How can I sell a Contemporary work?
Request a free auction estimate on ArtSell: send photos and details, and our specialists will reply with an estimate. There is no obligation.
Of the 289 lots by Contemporary recorded at auction between 2015 and 2026, 275 found a buyer (95%).
Sell a Contemporary workAll Contemporary auction resultsPrice chartContemporary works on paperContemporary sculptureContemporary paintingsFree auction estimate