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Oliver Messel Works on Paper: Auction Prices

1904–1978

Oliver Messel works on paper have appeared at auction 29 times in ArtSell’s records between 2015 and 2026; 28 sold, a sell-through rate of 97%. Half of the priced sales fell between $929Sign up free to see and $2.6kSign up free to see, with a median of $1.6kSign up free to see. Eight costume designs, to include three from Gigi holds the top price on file: $13.8kSign up free to see at Bonhams (June 2025). Sales were recorded mainly at Bonhams (24), Olympia Auctions (2) and Sworders (2).

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

29auction results2015–2026years recorded97%sold$1.6kSign up free to seemedian price$13.8kSign up free to seehighest

Oliver Messel works on paper: key figures

Auction results
29
Sold rate
97%
Active at auction
2015–2026
Median price
$1.6kSign up free to see
Record price
$13.8kSign up free to see Eight costume designs, to include three from Gigi, Bonhams, Jun 2025

Top auction houses: Bonhams (24), Olympia Auctions (2), Sworders (2)

Price guide: what is a work by Oliver Messel worth? →

Typical range is the middle half of priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). Past auction results, not a valuation.

Price chart & statistics for Oliver Messel →

All works on paper results

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  1. Two Costume Designs for Queen of Spades by Oliver Messel, watercolour, chalk and pencil on paper, sold Sep 2026
    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. THREE SKETCHES FOR WEDDING DECORATIONS - A CIRCULAR TEMPLE OF TRESTLED COLUMNS; A SIMPLE LITTLE TENT; SKETCH FOR THE ANTE ROOM, 1952 by Oliver Messel, ink, charcoal, watercolour and gouache on paper, sold Oct 2025
    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. A costume design for a lady in a riding habit by Oliver Messel, watercolour, pencil and gold pen, sold Jun 2025
    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. Eight costume designs, to include three from Gigi by Oliver Messel, 1973, variously watercolour, gouache and pencil, sold Jun 2025
    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. Five costume designs for Twang!! by Oliver Messel, 1965, variously watercolour, gouache, pen and ink and pencil, two with gold paint, sold Jun 2025
    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. Three costume designs for 'The Feldmarschallin' and 'Sophie' in Der Rosenkavalier, Glyndebourne by Oliver Messel, 1959, watercolour, gouache and pencil, the 'Sophie' example with gold paint, sold Jun 2025
    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. A costume design for 'The Lady' by Oliver Messel, pencil, gouache and watercolour, sold Jun 2025
    A costume design for 'The Lady'
    Gouache
    42.5 x 27.75cm (16 3/4 x 10 15/16in).
    Bonhams · · Lot 72
    £640≈ $864≈ €759Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £400–600View at Bonhams ↗
  8. A design for the cover of the 1958 Glyndebourne Festival Opera programme by Oliver Messel, watercolour, gouache, pencil and gold ink, sold Jun 2025
    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 ↗
  9. Three costume designs for Samson, Royal Opera House by Oliver Messel, 1958, watercolour, gouache, pencil and gold paint, one also with silver paint, sold Jun 2025
    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 ↗
  10. Three costume designs by Oliver Messel, circa 1949-1956, watercolour, gouache and pencil, one example with traces of glitter, sold Jun 2025
    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 ↗
  11. A costume design for a ballerina, probably for Homage to the Queen, Royal Opera House 1953 by Oliver Messel, gouache and pencil, sold Jun 2025
    A costume design for a ballerina, probably for Homage to the Queen, Royal Opera House 1953
    Gouache
    53 x 38.5cm (20 7/8 x 15 3/16in).
    Bonhams · · Lot 67
    £1,408≈ $1,900≈ €1,669Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £500–700View at Bonhams ↗
  12. Three designs for the decoration of the exterior of The Dorchester Hotel for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II by Oliver Messel, 1953, watercolour, gouache, crayon and pencil, sold Jun 2025
    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 ↗
  13. A set design for Ring Round the Moon, Globe Theatre by Oliver Messel, 1950, gouache, watercolour, chalk and pencil, sold Jun 2025
    A set design for Ring Round the Moon, Globe Theatre, 1950
    Gouache
    22.5 x 35.5cm (8 7/8 x 14in).
    Bonhams · · Lot 65
    £2,048≈ $2,764≈ €2,428Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £600–800View at Bonhams ↗
  14. Three costume designs for 'Countess Ranevskaya' in The Queen of Spades by Oliver Messel, 1949, watercolour, gouache and pencil, the second with gold paint, offered Jun 2025
    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 ↗
  15. Eight costume designs, to include an example for Ariadne auf Naxos by Oliver Messel, 1950, variously watercolour, gouache and pencil, some with pen and ink and gold/silver paint, sold Jun 2025
    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 ↗
  16. Two costume designs for Tough at the Top, Adelphi Theatre by Oliver Messel, 1949, watercolour and pencil, sold Jun 2025
    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 ↗
  17. A set design for 'The Fairy of the Enchanted Garden' from The Sleeping Beauty, Royal Opera House by Oliver Messel, 1946, watercolour, gouache, pen and ink and charcoal, sold Jun 2025
    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 ↗
  18. Four headdress designs for Vivien Leigh as 'Cleopatra' in Ceasar and Cleopatra by Oliver Messel, 1946, pencil, three with gold paint, sold Jun 2025
    Four headdress designs for Vivien Leigh as 'Cleopatra' in Ceasar and Cleopatra, 1946
    Drawing
    38 x 25cm (14 15/16 x 9 13/16in).(the largest)
    Bonhams · · Lot 59
    £3,584≈ $4,837≈ €4,248Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £1,200–1,800View at Bonhams ↗
  19. A costume design for Stewart Granger as 'Apollodorus' in Caesar and Cleopatra by Oliver Messel, 1945, watercolour and pencil, sold Jun 2025
    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 ↗
  20. Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre by Oliver Messel, 1942, variously watercolour, gouache and pencil, sold Jun 2025
    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 ↗
  21. A pair of costume designs for 'The Dark is Light Enough' by Oliver Messel, watercolour and black chalk over trace of pencil, heightened with white, sold Apr 2025
    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 ↗
  22. Portrait of Katharine Cornell as The Countess by Oliver Messel, circa 1955, gouache and pencil on paper, sold Oct 2024
    Portrait of Katharine Cornell as The Countess, circa 1955
    Gouache · Paper
    sight 10 1/2 x 7 3/8 in. (26.7 x 18.7 cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 252
    $2,816≈ £2,169≈ €2,607Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
  23. Portrait of a Young Barbadian Man by Oliver Messel, circa 1963, charcoal on paper, sold Oct 2024
    Portrait of a Young Barbadian Man, circa 1963
    Drawing · Paper
    approximately 12 x 9 in. (30.5 x 22.9 cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 251
    $640≈ £493≈ €593Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–1,500View at Bonhams ↗
  24. Set Design for Alexander Pushkin's Pique Dame (The Queen of Spades) by Oliver Messel, 1949, mixed media on paper, sold Oct 2024
    Set Design for Alexander Pushkin's Pique Dame (The Queen of Spades), 1949
    Mixed media · Paper
    sight 15 x 21 in. (38.1 x 53.3 cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 250
    $1,408≈ £1,085≈ €1,304Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–1,500View at Bonhams ↗
  25. Costume design for Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) by Oliver Messel, 1955, gouache and pencil on paper, sold Oct 2024
    Costume design for Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), 1955
    Gouache · Paper
    15 x 9 3/4 in. (38.1 x 24.8 cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 249
    $832≈ £641≈ €770Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
  26. Fantaisies Oceanographiques Set Model by Oliver Messel, watercolor and ink on hand-cut paper, sold Oct 2024
    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 ↗
  27. Untitled by Oliver Messel, 1946, 1946 watercolour and gouache, sold Jul 2024
    Untitled, 1946
    Watercolor
    Sworders · · Lot 89
    £300≈ $384≈ €355HammerSign up free to seeEst. £200–300View at Sworders ↗
  28. Untitled by Oliver Messel, pencil and pastel 36 x 23.5cm (3) Provenance: Each with Wright Hepburn Gallery labels., sold Dec 2021
    Untitled
    Pastel
    Sworders · · Lot 414
    £300≈ $398≈ €353HammerSign up free to seeEst. £200–300View at Sworders ↗
  29. Costume Design For Cleopatra Ii by Oliver Messel, watercolour 36cm by 25cm, sold Mar 2015
    Costume Design For Cleopatra Ii
    Watercolor
    Olympia Auctions · · Lot 123
    £750≈ $1,109≈ €1,031HammerSign up free to seeView at Olympia Auctions ↗
  30. Costume Design For Cleopatra Ii by Oliver Messel, watercolour 36cm by 25cm, sold Mar 2015
    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

PaintingsOil PaintingsWatercolorsGouaches

All Oliver Messel auction results →