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Oliver Messel Watercolors: Auction Prices

British · 1904–1978

ArtSell has recorded 20 auction results for Oliver Messel watercolors between 2015 and 2026, of which 19 sold (95% sell-through). Prices realised range from $384 to $13,821, with a median of $1,728 across 19 priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). The highest recorded price is $13,821 for “Eight costume designs, to include three from Gigi” at Bonhams in 2025.

Record: Eight costume designs, to include three from Gigi — $13,821Sign up free to see

20auction results2015–2026years recorded95%sold$1.7kSign up free to seemedian price$13.8kSign up free to seehighest

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  1. Oliver Messel, Two Costume Designs for Queen of Spades, watercolour, chalk and pencil on paper
    Two Costume Designs for Queen of Spades
    Watercolor · Paper
    36 x 23.5cm (14 3/16 x 9 1/4in). (2)
    Bonhams · · Lot 41
    £1,408≈ $1,882≈ €1,641Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £600–800View at Bonhams ↗
  2. Oliver Messel, 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
    THREE SKETCHES FOR WEDDING DECORATIONS - A CIRCULAR TEMPLE OF TRESTLED COLUMNS; A SIMPLE LITTLE TENT; SKETCH FOR THE ANTE ROOM, 1952
    Watercolor · Paper
    25.3cm x 35.4cm (10in x 14in) each
    Lyon & Turnbull · · Lot 137
    £882≈ $1,158≈ €1,002Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £600–800View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗
  3. Oliver Messel, A costume design for a lady in a riding habit, watercolour, pencil and gold pen
    A costume design for a lady in a riding habit
    Watercolor
    42 x 33.5cm (16 9/16 x 13 3/16in).
    Bonhams · · Lot 77
    £1,408≈ $1,900≈ €1,669Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
  4. Oliver Messel, Eight costume designs, to include three from Gigi, 1973, variously watercolour, gouache and pencil
    Eight costume designs, to include three from Gigi, 1973
    Watercolor
    37.5 x 25.25cm (14 3/4 x 9 15/16in). (each approximately)
    Bonhams · · Lot 76
    £10,240≈ $13,821≈ €12,139Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £3,000–5,000View at Bonhams ↗
  5. Oliver Messel, Five costume designs for Twang!!, 1965, variously watercolour, gouache, pen and ink and pencil, two with gold paint
    Five costume designs for Twang!!, 1965
    Watercolor
    37.5 x 25.5cm (14 3/4 x 10 1/16in). (the largest)
    Bonhams · · Lot 75
    £1,536≈ $2,073≈ €1,821Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £2,500–3,500View at Bonhams ↗
  6. Oliver Messel, Three costume designs for 'The Feldmarschallin' and 'Sophie' in Der Rosenkavalier, Glyndebourne, 1959, watercolour, gouache and pencil, the 'Sophie' example with gold paint
    Three costume designs for 'The Feldmarschallin' and 'Sophie' in Der Rosenkavalier, Glyndebourne, 1959
    Watercolor
    38 x 25cm (14 15/16 x 9 13/16in). (each)
    Bonhams · · Lot 74
    £832≈ $1,123≈ €986Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
  7. Oliver Messel, A design for the cover of the 1958 Glyndebourne Festival Opera programme, watercolour, gouache, pencil and gold ink
    A design for the cover of the 1958 Glyndebourne Festival Opera programme
    Watercolor
    37.75 x 25cm (14 7/8 x 9 13/16in).
    Bonhams · · Lot 71
    £704≈ $950≈ €835Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
  8. Oliver Messel, Three costume designs for Samson, Royal Opera House, 1958, watercolour, gouache, pencil and gold paint, one also with silver paint
    Three costume designs for Samson, Royal Opera House, 1958
    Watercolor
    38 x 25cm (14 15/16 x 9 13/16in).
    Bonhams · · Lot 70
    £1,536≈ $2,073≈ €1,821Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £2,500–3,500View at Bonhams ↗
  9. Oliver Messel, Three costume designs, circa 1949-1956, watercolour, gouache and pencil, one example with traces of glitter
    Three costume designs, circa 1949-1956
    Watercolor
    33.75 x 23.5cm (13 5/16 x 9 1/4in).(the largest)
    Bonhams · · Lot 69
    £614≈ $829≈ €728Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
  10. Oliver Messel, Three designs for the decoration of the exterior of The Dorchester Hotel for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953, watercolour, gouache, crayon and pencil
    Three designs for the decoration of the exterior of The Dorchester Hotel for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953
    Watercolor
    36.5 x 21.5cm (14 3/8 x 8 7/16in). (each)
    Bonhams · · Lot 66
    £5,376≈ $7,256≈ €6,373Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £1,000–1,500View at Bonhams ↗
  11. Oliver Messel, Three costume designs for 'Countess Ranevskaya' in The Queen of Spades, 1949, watercolour, gouache and pencil, the second with gold paint
    Three costume designs for 'Countess Ranevskaya' in The Queen of Spades, 1949
    Watercolor
    51.25 x 39.5cm (20 3/16 x 15 9/16in).
    Bonhams · · Lot 64
    Unsold / did not meet reserveEst. £1,500–2,500View at Bonhams ↗
  12. Oliver Messel, Eight costume designs, to include an example for Ariadne auf Naxos, 1950, variously watercolour, gouache and pencil, some with pen and ink and gold/silver paint
    Eight costume designs, to include an example for Ariadne auf Naxos, 1950
    Watercolor
    50.25 x 33.75cm (19 13/16 x 13 5/16in). (the largest)
    Bonhams · · Lot 63
    £1,280≈ $1,728≈ €1,517Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £2,000–3,000View at Bonhams ↗
  13. Oliver Messel, Two costume designs for Tough at the Top, Adelphi Theatre, 1949, watercolour and pencil
    Two costume designs for Tough at the Top, Adelphi Theatre, 1949Attributed to the artist
    Watercolor
    36.5 x 24.5cm (14 3/8 x 9 5/8in). (each)
    Bonhams · · Lot 62
    £768≈ $1,037≈ €910Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £600–800View at Bonhams ↗
  14. Oliver Messel, A set design for 'The Fairy of the Enchanted Garden' from The Sleeping Beauty, Royal Opera House, 1946, watercolour, gouache, pen and ink and charcoal
    A set design for 'The Fairy of the Enchanted Garden' from The Sleeping Beauty, Royal Opera House, 1946
    Watercolor
    40 x 54.5cm (15 3/4 x 21 7/16in).
    Bonhams · · Lot 60
    £2,816≈ $3,801≈ €3,338Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
  15. Oliver Messel, A costume design for Stewart Granger as 'Apollodorus' in Caesar and Cleopatra, 1945, watercolour and pencil
    A costume design for Stewart Granger as 'Apollodorus' in Caesar and Cleopatra, 1945
    Watercolor
    57 x 39.5cm (22 7/16 x 15 9/16in).
    Bonhams · · Lot 58
    £704≈ $950≈ €835Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £400–600View at Bonhams ↗
  16. Oliver Messel, Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942, variously watercolour, gouache and pencil
    Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942
    Watercolor
    56 x 38cm (22 1/16 x 14 15/16in). (the largest)
    Bonhams · · Lot 57
    £1,920≈ $2,591≈ €2,276Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
  17. Oliver Messel, A pair of costume designs for 'The Dark is Light Enough', watercolour and black chalk over trace of pencil, heightened with white
    A pair of costume designs for 'The Dark is Light Enough'
    Watercolor
    each 46 x 34cm (18 x 13in).
    Bonhams · · Lot 62
    £1,152≈ $1,525≈ €1,346Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
  18. Oliver Messel, Fantaisies Oceanographiques Set Model, watercolor and ink on hand-cut paper
    Fantaisies Oceanographiques Set Model
    Watercolor · Paper
    9 7/8 x 16 3/4 x 2 1/2 in. (25.1 x 42.5 x 6.3 cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 243
    $3,584≈ £2,761≈ €3,318Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,500–2,500View at Bonhams ↗
  19. Oliver Messel, Untitled, 1946, 1946 watercolour and gouache
    Untitled, 1946
    Watercolor
    Sworders · · Lot 89
    £300≈ $384≈ €355HammerSign up free to seeEst. £200–300View at Sworders ↗
  20. Oliver Messel, Costume Design For Cleopatra Ii, watercolour 36cm by 25cm
    Costume Design For Cleopatra Ii
    Watercolor
    Olympia Auctions · · Lot 123
    £750≈ $1,109≈ €1,031HammerSign up free to seeView at Olympia Auctions ↗
  21. Oliver Messel, Costume Design For Cleopatra Ii, watercolour 36cm by 25cm
    Costume Design For Cleopatra Ii
    Watercolor
    Olympia Auctions · · Lot 122
    £480≈ $710≈ €660HammerSign up free to seeView at Olympia Auctions ↗

Other media by Oliver Messel

PaintingsWorks on PaperOil PaintingsGouaches

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