What is a David Smith work worth?
1906–1965 · Price guide from past auction results
Based on 70 priced auction sales, works by David Smith have sold for a median of $9,808Sign up free to see. Half of them sold between $970Sign up free to see and $22,542Sign up free to see. In the last five years the median was $10,795Sign up free to see across 33 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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David Smith prices by medium
- Auction results
- 77
- Sold rate
- 91%
- Active at auction
- 2012–2026
- Median price
- $9.8kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $581kSign up free to see Forging V, Phillips, Nov 2025
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 27 | $10.7k–$26.6kSign up free to see | $17.6kSign up free to see |
| Paintings | 11 | $4.7k–$41.5kSign up free to see | $21.1kSign up free to see |
| Sculpture | 10 | $480–$153kSign up free to see | $2.6kSign up free to see |
| Prints | 7 | $2.6k–$4.6kSign up free to see | $3kSign up free to see |
| Photographs | 3 | $4.4k–$7.5kSign up free to see | $4.8kSign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Phillips (35), Crocker Farm (16), Rago Auctions (8)
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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) | 15 | $124–$4.5kSign up free to see | $885Sign up free to see |
| Mid-size (30–75 cm) | 34 | $9.4k–$27.7kSign up free to see | $17.5kSign up free to see |
| Large (75–150 cm) | 10 | $2.5k–$19.7kSign up free to see | $11.5kSign up free to see |
| Very large (over 150 cm) | 3 | $255k–$429kSign up free to see | $277kSign up free to see |
Recent David Smith sales
- ΔΣ 11/1/52 (double-sided), egg ink and tempera on paper — $20,640Sign up free to see, Phillips, Jul 16, 2026
- 5/4/53, Violet Indian ink on paper — $10,348Sign up free to see, Lempertz, Jun 6, 2026
- Untitled, glazed earthenware — $4,480Sign up free to see, Rago Auctions, May 14, 2026
- Untitled, spray enamel on canvas — $232,200Sign up free to see, Phillips, Feb 28, 2026
- View from Adolph's Sister's House, Provincetown, sepia, egg yoke and crushed shells ink on paper — $10,240Sign up free to see, Bonhams, Feb 19, 2026
- Untitled, enamel on canvas — $10,795Sign up free to see, Rago Auctions, Dec 10, 2025
- 90-12-57, Mixed media. Pigment ink with egg, thinned with... — $27,040Sign up free to see, Ketterer Kunst, Dec 6, 2025
- A miner crawling, ink and wash — $53Sign up free to see, Anderson & Garland, Dec 4, 2025
Questions about David Smith prices
What is a David Smith work worth?
Based on 70 priced auction sales recorded by ArtSell, works by David Smith have sold for a median of $9,808, and half of them sold between $970 and $22,542. 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 David Smith sold at auction?
The highest price in ArtSell’s records is $580,500 for “Forging V” at Phillips in November 2025.
Which David Smith medium sells for the most?
By median price, paintings lead with $21,137 (11 sales).
How often do David Smith works sell at auction?
91% of the 77 lots recorded between 2012 and 2026 sold.
How can I sell a David Smith work?
Request a free auction estimate on ArtSell: send photos and details, and our specialists will reply with an estimate. There is no obligation.
David Smith have appeared at auction 77 times in ArtSell’s records between 2012 and 2026; 70 sold, a sell-through rate of 91%.
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