What is a Oliver Messel work on paper worth?
1904–1978 · Price guide from past auction results
Half of the 36 works by Oliver Messel with a published auction price sold between $950Sign up free to see and $3,051Sign up free to see, and the median is $1,891Sign up free to see. For works on paper alone, the median is $1,626Sign up free to see across 28 sales. In the last five years the median was $1,900Sign 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.
Oliver Messel prices by medium
- Auction results
- 38
- Sold rate
- 95%
- Active at auction
- 2015–2026
- Median price
- $1.9kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $13.8kSign up free to see Eight costume designs, to include three from Gigi, Bonhams, Jun 2025
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 28 | $929–$2.6kSign up free to see | $1.6kSign up free to see |
| Paintings | 4 | $2.7k–$4.2kSign up free to see | $3.1kSign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Bonhams (27), Lyon & Turnbull (4), Toovey's (3)
Typical range is the middle half of priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). Past auction results, not a valuation.
Recent Oliver Messel sales
- Two Costume Designs for Queen of Spades, watercolour, chalk and pencil on paper — $1,882Sign up free to see, Bonhams, Sep 22, 2026
- THREE SKETCHES FOR WEDDING DECORATIONS - A CIRCULAR TEMPLE OF TRESTLED COLUMNS; A SIMPLE LITTLE TENT; SKETCH FOR THE ANTE ROOM, 1952, ink, charcoal, watercolour and gouache on paper — $1,158Sign up free to see, Lyon & Turnbull, Oct 30, 2025
- Three costume designs, watercolour, gouache and pencil, one example with traces of glitter — $829Sign up free to see, Bonhams, Jun 3, 2025
- A set design for Ring Round the Moon, Globe Theatre, gouache, watercolour, chalk and pencil — $2,764Sign up free to see, Bonhams, Jun 3, 2025
- Two costume designs, possibly for Le Comte Ory — $2,246Sign up free to see, Bonhams, Jun 3, 2025
- Three designs for the decoration of the exterior of The Dorchester Hotel for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, watercolour, gouache, crayon and pencil — $7,256Sign up free to see, Bonhams, Jun 3, 2025
- Five costume designs for Twang!!, variously watercolour, gouache, pen and ink and pencil, two with gold paint — $2,073Sign up free to see, Bonhams, Jun 3, 2025
- Eight costume designs, to include three from Gigi, variously watercolour, gouache and pencil — $13,821Sign up free to see, Bonhams, Jun 3, 2025
Questions about Oliver Messel prices
What is a Oliver Messel work on paper worth?
Based on 36 priced auction sales recorded by ArtSell, works by Oliver Messel have sold for a median of $1,891, and half of them sold between $950 and $3,051. For works on paper alone the median is $1,626 (28 sales). 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 Oliver Messel sold at auction?
The highest price in ArtSell’s records is $13,821 for “Eight costume designs, to include three from Gigi” at Bonhams in June 2025.
Which Oliver Messel medium sells for the most?
By median price, paintings lead with $3,055 (4 sales).
How often do Oliver Messel works sell at auction?
95% of the 38 lots recorded between 2015 and 2026 sold.
How can I sell a Oliver Messel work on paper?
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 38 lots by Oliver Messel recorded at auction between 2015 and 2026, 36 found a buyer (95%).
All Oliver Messel auction resultsPrice chartOliver Messel works on paperOliver Messel paintingsFree auction estimate