What is a Joseph Cornell work worth?
1903–1972 · Price guide from past auction results
Half of the 40 works by Joseph Cornell with a published auction price sold between $1,969Sign up free to see and $29,925Sign up free to see, and the median is $11,655Sign up free to see. In the last five years the median was $4,826Sign up free to see across 21 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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Joseph Cornell prices by medium
- Auction results
- 46
- Sold rate
- 87%
- Active at auction
- 2005–2026
- Median price
- $11.7kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $269kSign up free to see Untitled (HÔTEL DE L'ÉTOILE, SUZANNE MILLER), Phillips, May 2016
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prints | 10 | $1.1k–$4.3kSign up free to see | $2.1kSign up free to see |
| Works on Paper | 9 | $12.5k–$20kSign up free to see | $13.8kSign up free to see |
| Paintings | 7 | $11.7k–$27.6kSign up free to see | $15.1kSign up free to see |
| Photographs | 6 | $583–$5.9kSign up free to see | $2.9kSign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Phillips (24), Rago Auctions (12), Toomey & Co. (3)
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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) | 10 | $5.2k–$55.4kSign up free to see | $21.4kSign up free to see |
| Mid-size (30–75 cm) | 24 | $1.1k–$14.4kSign up free to see | $8.8kSign up free to see |
Recent Joseph Cornell sales
- Untitled, collage on paper, in artist's frame — $14,190Sign up free to see, Phillips, Sep 26, 2026
- Untitled (Derby Hat) (from the Prints for Pheonix House portfolio), photogravure in colors on BFK Rives — $1,143Sign up free to see, Toomey & Co., Nov 14, 2025
- Untitled (Landscape with Figure) (from the Prints for Phoenix House portfolio), photogravure in colors — $635Sign up free to see, Toomey & Co., Nov 14, 2025
- Untitled (How to Make a Rainbow) (from the Prints for Phoenix House portfolio), screenprint in colors with varnish stencil — $1,143Sign up free to see, Toomey & Co., Nov 14, 2025
- Untitled (Landscape with Figure) (from the Prints for Phoenix House portfolio), photogravure in colors — $462Sign up free to see, Rago Auctions, Oct 3, 2025
- Untitled (Helen Storms Cornell), gelatin silver print with ink and collage mounted to Masonite — $4,826Sign up free to see, Rago Auctions, Mar 26, 2025
- Ohne Titel, Fragment eines Seesterns, gefärbter Sand und Papier in Plastikröhrchen — $3,056Sign up free to see, Van Ham, Nov 26, 2024
- Cassiopeia #2, painted wood and glass, printed paper collage, metal rods, clay pipe, cork ball, — $177,800Sign up free to see, Phillips, Nov 20, 2024
Questions about Joseph Cornell prices
What is a Joseph Cornell work worth?
Based on 40 priced auction sales recorded by ArtSell, works by Joseph Cornell have sold for a median of $11,655, and half of them sold between $1,969 and $29,925. 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 Joseph Cornell sold at auction?
The highest price in ArtSell’s records is $269,000 for “Untitled (HÔTEL DE L'ÉTOILE, SUZANNE MILLER)” at Phillips in May 2016.
Which Joseph Cornell medium sells for the most?
By median price, paintings lead with $15,120 (7 sales).
How often do Joseph Cornell works sell at auction?
87% of the 46 lots recorded between 2005 and 2026 sold.
How can I sell a Joseph Cornell work?
Request a free auction estimate on ArtSell: send photos and details, and our specialists will reply with an estimate. There is no obligation.
Joseph Cornell have appeared at auction 46 times in ArtSell’s records between 2005 and 2026; 40 sold, a sell-through rate of 87%.
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