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Joseph Cornell

Joseph Cornell

American · 1903–1972 · Painter, Sculptor

Joseph Cornell was an American visual artist and filmmaker, one of the pioneers and most celebrated exponents of assemblage. Influenced by the Surrealists, he was also an… (Wikipedia)

Own a work by Joseph Cornell? Get a free auction estimate →

48lots offered2005–2026years recorded87%sold (40)$11.7kSign up free to seemedian price

Record prices

  1. Joseph Cornell, Untitled (HÔTEL DE L'ÉTOILE, SUZANNE MILLER), circa 1960, ink, pencil, printed paper and photograph collage on boardUntitled (HÔTEL DE L'ÉTOILE, SUZANNE MILLER)Phillips · $269,000≈ £186,249≈ €236,484Sign up to see
  2. Joseph Cornell, Cassiopeia #2, 1960-1961, painted wood and glass, printed paper collage, metal rods, clay pipe, cork ball, marble, mirror, driftwood and nails in a wood box constructionCassiopeia #2Phillips · $177,800≈ £140,365≈ €168,339Sign up to see
  3. Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Parrot Collage; Grand Hotel de la Pomme d’Or), 1954-1955, box constructionUntitled (Parrot Collage; Grand Hotel de la Pomme d’Or)Phillips · $150,000≈ £120,443≈ €139,965Sign up to see

Joseph Cornell’s highest prices recorded at auction, ranked in US dollars at each sale-date exchange rate and shown in the currency of the sale (with the buyer’s premium where the house publishes it).

ArtSell has recorded 46 auction results for Joseph Cornell between 2005 and 2026, of which 40 sold (87%). A further 2 lots were offered at auction without a published result. Recorded sale prices range from $237Sign up free to see to $269kSign up free to see. The highest price recorded is $269kSign up free to see for Untitled (HÔTEL DE L'ÉTOILE, SUZANNE MILLER) at Phillips in May 2016. Most results come from Phillips (24), Rago Auctions (12) and Toomey & Co. (3).

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  1. Joseph Cornell, Untitled, 1965, collage on paper, in artist's frame
    Untitled, 1965
    Mixed media · Paper
    12 1/8 x 9 1/8 in. (30.8 x 23.2 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 114
    $14,190≈ £10,708≈ €12,444Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $6,000–8,000View at Phillips ↗
  2. Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Landscape with Figure) (from the Prints for Phoenix House portfolio), 1972, photogravure in colors
    Untitled (Landscape with Figure) (from the Prints for Phoenix House portfolio), 1972
    Etching
    13 h x 10⅛ w in (33 x 26 cm)
    Toomey & Co. · · Lot 145
    $635≈ £482≈ €545Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $300–View at Toomey & Co. ↗
  3. Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Derby Hat) (from the Prints for Pheonix House portfolio), 1972, photogravure in colors on BFK Rives
    Untitled (Derby Hat) (from the Prints for Pheonix House portfolio), 1972
    Etching · Paper
    11⅞ h x 9 w in (30 x 23 cm)
    Toomey & Co. · · Lot 146
    $1,143≈ £868≈ €981Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–View at Toomey & Co. ↗
  4. Joseph Cornell, Untitled (How to Make a Rainbow) (from the Prints for Phoenix House portfolio), 1972, screenprint in colors with varnish stencil
    Untitled (How to Make a Rainbow) (from the Prints for Phoenix House portfolio), 1972
    Screenprint
    14½ h x 11 w in (37 x 28 cm)
    Toomey & Co. · · Lot 147
    $1,143≈ £868≈ €981Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–View at Toomey & Co. ↗
  5. Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Landscape with Figure) (from the Prints for Phoenix House portfolio), 1972, photogravure in colors
    Untitled (Landscape with Figure) (from the Prints for Phoenix House portfolio), 1972
    Photograph
    12⅞ h x 10 w in (33 x 25 cm)
    Rago Auctions · · Lot 138
    $462≈ £344≈ €394Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $500–View at Rago Auctions ↗
  6. Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Helen Storms Cornell), c. 1966, gelatin silver print with ink and collage mounted to Masonite
    Untitled (Helen Storms Cornell), c. 1966
    Photograph · Board
    10 h x 8 w in (25 x 20 cm)
    Rago Auctions · · Lot 247
    $4,826≈ £3,741≈ €4,473Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $6,000–View at Rago Auctions ↗
  7. Joseph Cornell, Ohne Titel, 1971, Fragment eines Seesterns, gefärbter Sand und Papier in Plastikröhrchen
    Ohne Titel, 1971
    Fragment eines Seesterns, gefärbter Sand und Papier in Plastikröhrchen · Paper
    8 x 3 x 3cm
    Van Ham · · Lot 7
    €2,904≈ $3,056≈ £2,424Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €2,000–View at Van Ham ↗
  8. Joseph Cornell, Cassiopeia #2, 1960-1961, painted wood and glass, printed paper collage, metal rods, clay pipe, cork ball, marble, mirror, driftwood and nails in a wood box construction
    Cassiopeia #2, 1960-1961
    Sculpture · Panel
    9 7/8 x 16 1/4 x 3 7/8 in. (25.1 x 41.3 x 9.8 cm)
    Phillips · · Lot 128
    $177,800≈ £140,365≈ €168,339Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $50,000–70,000View at Phillips ↗
  9. Joseph Cornell, Untitled (How to Make a Rainbow) (from the Prints for Phoenix House portfolio), 1972, screenprint in colors with varnish stencil
    Untitled (How to Make a Rainbow) (from the Prints for Phoenix House portfolio), 1972
    Screenprint
    14½ h x 11 w in (37 x 28 cm)
    Rago Auctions · · Lot 195
    $1,134≈ £870≈ €1,041Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,200–View at Rago Auctions ↗
  10. Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Yellow Sand Tray) (from the Sand Prison from Celestial Navigation series), 1956, mixed media
    Untitled (Yellow Sand Tray) (from the Sand Prison from Celestial Navigation series), 1956
    Mixed media
    1 h x 3⅞ w x 17⅜ d in (3 x 10 x 44 cm)
    Rago Auctions · · Lot 115
    $32,760≈ £24,488≈ €29,426Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $30,000–View at Rago Auctions ↗
Also offered, result not published (2)

Lots by Joseph Cornell that were offered at auction where the house did not publish whether they sold. Not counted in any statistics.

Joseph Cornell paintings (8)Joseph Cornell mixed media (7)Joseph Cornell works on paper (10)Joseph Cornell prints (13)Joseph Cornell screenprints (6)Joseph Cornell photographs (6)

Joseph Cornell: quick facts

What is the highest price paid for a work by Joseph Cornell at auction?

$269,000Sign up free to see, for Untitled (HÔTEL DE L'ÉTOILE, SUZANNE MILLER) at Phillips (May 2016) — the highest price in ArtSell’s records.

What is a typical auction price for Joseph Cornell?

The median sale price is $11.7kSign up free to see across 40 priced sales. Prices vary by medium, size and date — see the price chart & statistics.

How many works by Joseph Cornell have sold at auction?

40 of 46 recorded lots sold between 2005 and 2026. 2 further lots were offered with no published result and are not counted.

Which auction houses sell Joseph Cornell?

Phillips, Rago Auctions and Toomey & Co. account for the most recorded results. Phillips · Rago Auctions · Toomey & Co.

Joseph Cornell signature

19 catalogued lots by Joseph Cornell record a signature line. The most common placement is on the reverse (67% of lots that state a placement). Most often: signed.

Placement

  • on the reverse10
  • lower right4
  • lower left1

Form

  • signed18
  • signed and dated1
  • Signed "Joseph Cornell" on a label affixed to the reverse; inscribed "Henry Geldzahler" on the reverse — Untitled, Phillips, Sep 26, 2026
  • Signed in mirror image “Joseph Cornell” on a label affixed to the reverse — Cassiopeia #2, Phillips, Nov 20, 2024
  • Signed and titled ""Lead-clue to the Houdini Disappearing Elephant act" Joseph Cornell." on the reverse — Lead-clue to the Houdini Disappearing Elephant act, Phillips, Sep 28, 2022

Joseph Cornell signature: all forms and examples →

About Joseph Cornell

Joseph Cornell was an American visual artist and filmmaker, one of the pioneers and most celebrated exponents of assemblage. Influenced by the Surrealists, he was also an avant-garde experimental filmmaker. He was largely self-taught in his artistic efforts, and improvised his own original style incorporating cast-off and discarded artifacts. He lived most of his life in relative physical isolation, caring for his mother and his disabled brother at home, but remained aware of and in contact with other contemporary artists.

From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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