Sell a John Firth-Smith painting
Have a John Firth-Smith painting to sell? Start with a free auction estimate. John Firth-Smith has 49 recorded auction lots, 71% of them sold, most often at Menzies. Half of the priced sales fell between $1,217Sign up free to see and $11,049Sign up free to see.
Record price: $42,066Sign up free to see for Contemplation 1987, Menzies, March 2014.
Past auction results, not a valuation. Condition, size, subject, date and provenance decide what a particular work brings. Full price guide: what is a John Firth-Smith painting worth? →
Recent John Firth-Smith results
- Imp — $269Sign up free to see, Davidson Auctions, Aug 2024
- Rhythms #2 2002 — $9,806Sign up free to see, Menzies, Jun 2024
- On Starboard II — $3,196Sign up free to see, Davidson Auctions, Aug 2023
- Myth — $66Sign up free to see, Davidson Auctions, Jul 2023
- Hamburger — $232Sign up free to see, Davidson Auctions, Jul 2023
- Night Wind 1985 — $13,925Sign up free to see, Menzies, Mar 2023
Where John Firth-Smith sells
| Auction house | Lots | Sold | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menzies | 19 | 12 | $15.8kSign up free to see |
| Davidson Auctions | 15 | 12 | $988Sign up free to see |
| Leonard Joel | 10 | 9 | $2.5kSign up free to see |
Free auction estimate
How selling at auction works
- Send photos for a free estimate. A photo of the front, plus the signature, the back and any labels if you can. Add the size and anything you know about where the work came from.
- Get an auction estimate. A specialist compares the work with recorded auction results and replies with an estimate range: what the work could reasonably bring at auction, not a guarantee or a formal appraisal.
- Agree terms and a reserve. If you decide to sell, you sign a consignment agreement that sets the commission, any fees and the reserve (the confidential minimum price below which the work will not sell).
- Ship or hand over the work. The work goes to the house for inspection, cataloguing and photography. Condition and authorship are checked before it is offered.
- The sale. The work is offered in a scheduled sale, online or in the room. Buyers pay a buyer’s premium on top of the hammer price; that is the buyer’s cost, not yours.
- Get paid. After the buyer pays, the house settles with you: the hammer price minus the seller’s commission and any agreed fees.
Typical timeline
- Estimate: usually a few days after you send photos.
- Consignment to sale: commonly 6–12 weeks, because houses build sales around themes and seasons and need time to catalogue and market each lot.
- Payment: usually about 30–35 days after the sale, once the buyer has paid.
What selling costs
- Seller’s commission: a percentage of the hammer price. At many houses it falls roughly between 10% and 25%, often lower for higher-value works, and it is frequently negotiable.
- Possible fees: some houses charge for photography, insurance, shipping or an unsold-lot fee. Ask which apply before you sign.
- Buyer’s premium: paid by the buyer on top of the hammer price. Prices in our results include it where the house publishes it.
What to have ready for your John Firth-Smith estimate
- A straight-on photo of the whole front, in daylight, without glare (frame on is fine)
- A close-up of the signature, monogram or any stamp
- The back: canvas or board, stretcher, labels, gallery or exhibition stickers, inscriptions
- Height and width (and depth for sculpture), without the frame if you can
- Medium if you know it: oil, acrylic, watercolor, print, bronze…
- How you acquired it: purchase receipts, gallery invoices, letters, family history, past appraisals
- Condition notes: tears, flaking, stains, restoration, foxing on paper
- For prints: the edition number (e.g. 23/100) and any blindstamp
How to photograph art for an estimate →
John Firth-Smith appraisal for insurance or an estate
Not selling, but need a documented value? A free auction estimate is for selling; insurers, executors and charities usually need a formal written appraisal. Need an appraisal for insurance? Request a written John Firth-Smith appraisal →
Selling John Firth-Smith: questions
How do I sell a John Firth-Smith painting?
Send photos of the front, signature and back with the size for a free auction estimate. If you decide to sell, you consign the work to an auction house under a written agreement that sets the commission and reserve; the house catalogues, markets and sells it, then pays you after the buyer pays.
Is there demand for John Firth-Smith at auction?
ArtSell has recorded 49 John Firth-Smith lots between 2010 and 2024, and 71% of them sold; 13 priced sales came in the last five years.
What have John Firth-Smith paintings sold for?
Half of the 35 priced sales were between $1,217 and $11,049 (median $4,942); the record is $42,066. These are past auction results, not a valuation of your work.
How much does it cost to sell at auction?
The seller pays a commission on the hammer price, at many houses roughly 10% to 25% and often negotiable for higher-value works, plus any agreed fees such as photography, insurance or shipping. The estimate itself is free.
How long does it take?
An estimate usually takes a few days. From consignment to sale is commonly 6 to 12 weeks, and payment usually follows about a month after the sale.
John Firth-Smith price guideAll John Firth-Smith auction resultsJohn Firth-Smith paintingsJohn Firth-Smith printsJohn Firth-Smith works on paper
Seller guides
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