British, 1894–1982
Ben Nicholson O.m.
913results on record
79%sell-through
$18,383median result (USD, incl. premium; 100% observed, 0% estimated from hammer)
$4,654,585record in our coverage
Drawn from 913 recorded results (830 sold · 83 passed) across 18 auction houses, 1998–2026. 4 upcoming lots on the ledger. What we cover
Median sold price by year typical estimate range median result USD, incl. premium; 100% observed, 0% estimated from hammer method · log scale
Where does a value land in this market?
The same figure also answers the seller's question: which house clears a work like this, and for how much — expected proceeds by house, from the sell-through the rest of this page is built on.
Every sold result for this market, low to high (log scale) — the dashed line is the median. Enter a value to see where it lands.
By medium where medium is recorded or stated in the catalog line
| Medium | Results | Sell-through | Median result (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| works on paper | 138 | 63% | $19,104 |
| prints | 123 | 93% | $3,778 |
| painting | 120 | 88% | $200,561 |
| ceramics & design | 55 | 88% | $14,641 |
| other | 7 | 67% | $15,950 |
| sculpture | 6 | 0% | $69,924 |
Medium is recorded for 449 of 913 results (49%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.
Compared with Henry Moore Ben Nicholson O.m. Henry Moore
| Metric | Ben Nicholson O.m. | Henry Moore |
|---|---|---|
| Median result | $18,383 | $15,000 |
| Record price | $4,654,585 | $35,201,404 |
| Results on record | 913 | 3,915 |
| Years active at auction | 1998–2026 | 1998–2026 |
Related artists: Henry MoorePablo PicassoJohn Piper C.h.Graham Sutherland O.m.
Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method
78/ 100
- Sell-through79%
- Meets estimate67%
- Market depth913 results
How readily and near-estimate this market clears — sell-through, estimate reliability, and depth, blended into one score. "Meets estimate" is the share of sold lots hammering at or above the low estimate, over catalogs that print a real appraisal: a house whose printed low is a starting bid would meet its estimate on every lot, so those lots are excluded from this term only — their prices and outcomes still count in the other two. Method →
Where this artist sells best
| House | Results | Sell-through | Median | vs. estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sotheby's | 349 | 79% | $34,264 | 0.92× |
| Christie's | 321 | 81% | $26,503 | — |
| Bonhams | 156 | 81% | $6,247 | 0.90× |
| Phillips | 24 | 71% | $2,016 | — |
| Lyon & Turnbull | 17 | 44% | $3,224 | 1.35× |
| Chiswick Auctions | 10 | 100% | $424 | — |
| Ketterer Kunst | 6 | — | $8,218 | — |
| SBI Art Auction | 7 | 71% | $2,780 | — |
| Strauss & Co | 3 | 100% | $1,668 | 2.50× |
| Wright | 2 | 100% | $9,042 | — |
| Freeman's | Hindman | 2 | 100% | $29,725 | 3.05× |
| Grisebach | 2 | — | $37,046 | — |
| Heritage Auctions | 3 | 67% | $7,188 | — |
| Dorotheum | 7 | 29% | $13,222 | — |
| Rago | 1 | 100% | $191 | — |
| Tiroche | 1 | 100% | $2,000 | 0.91× |
| Kruso Art | 1 | 100% | $27 | 0.27× |
| VAN HAM Kunstauktionen GmbH Co. KG | 1 | 0% | — | — |
The same artist across every house we cover — hammer-vs-estimate side by side. A dash in the estimate column can mean withheld rather than unpublished: the house publishes no hammer price, or its printed low is a starting bid rather than an appraisal. Method →
Prices realized 917 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 83 passed lots
| Date | Lot | Medium | vs. estimate | Estimate USD | Result USD, incl. premium | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2022·06 | aug 49 | $242,065–$363,097 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2022·06 | Nov 59 (Epidaurus) | oil on curved board | $733,827–$978,437 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·06 | Ben Nicholson | $1,500–$2,000 | Tiroche | |||
| 2022·06 | Involved Still Life 43.5 x 37.6 cm. (17 1/8 x 14 3/4 in.) | $12,250–$18,375 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·06 | Half Mug, Half Jug | Eau-forte sur papier vélin | $1,573–$2,097 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·06 | Complicated Forms; Bird | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·06 | San Gimignano | $2,000–$3,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·06 | Bird's Eye | $1,000–$1,500 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·04 | Studies, Aegina, 1968 | $2,512–$3,768 | Lyon & Turnbull | |||
| 2022·04 | small red diamond, circa 1974 | $7,537–$10,049 | Lyon & Turnbull | |||
| 2022·04 | Oh Boy!, circa 1933 | $10,049–$15,074 | Lyon & Turnbull | |||
| 2022·04 | View from Bankshead Looking East, 1920s | $2,512–$3,768 | Lyon & Turnbull | |||
| 2022·04 | 4 Forms, 1981 | $5,025–$7,537 | Lyon & Turnbull | |||
| 2022·04 | Palaestra | $1,257–$1,885 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·04 | Pisa as intended (L. 42, C. 41) | $1,000–$2,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2022·04 | Siena (large version) (L. 22, C. 39) | $1,000–$2,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2022·03 | Untitled (March 64) | pencil and oil wash on paper, on the artist's prepared board | $10,552–$15,829 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·03 | Aug 27- 54 (St Ives) | oil wash and pencil on paper | $26,381–$39,571 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·03 | Feb 13 - 52 (salmon + grey) | oil and pencil on canvas | $131,904–$263,809 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·03 | (1965) Olympia | ink and oil wash on paper | $6,595–$10,552 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·03 | 1936 (white relief) | carved and painted walnut panel, relief | $1,986,831–$3,311,386 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·03 | October 1949 (Rangitane) | oil on curved panel | $927,188–$1,324,554 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·03 | Illustration to a Children's Story (George and Rufus) | $39,229–$65,381 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2022·01 | Olympia (L. 10, C. 42) | $1,364–$2,046 | Phillips | |||
| 2021·12 | Still Life | $2,638–$3,958 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·11 | Cloud (May 78) 28 x 33 cm. (11 x 13 in.) (including the artist's prepared backboard) | $13,351–$26,702 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·11 | still life (sung) March 6 - 51 | $40,052–$66,754 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·11 | Untitled 35.3 x 21.6 cm. (13 7/8 x 8 1/2 in.) (unframed) | $8,010–$10,681 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·11 | Illustration to George and Rufus | $106,993–$160,489 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·11 | Violin and Balalaika | $401,224–$668,706 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·11 | Untitled ( recto and verso ) | ); etching, oil wash and colored wax crayons on paper | $10,000–$15,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·10 | March 19-54 (single circle) | oil and pencil on canvas-board, on the artist's prepared board | $96,641–$138,059 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·10 | Sept 56 (S. Pietro, Lucca) | pencil and oil wash on paper | $27,612–$41,418 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·10 | 1970 (blue jug) | ink and oil wash on paper, on the artist's prepared board | $13,806–$20,709 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·10 | 1944 (still life) | oil and pencil on board, on the artist's prepared board | $110,447–$165,671 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·10 | Spanners | pencil and oil wash on carved board | $20,709–$34,515 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·10 | July 25-47 (still life - Odyssey 2) | oil and pencil on panel, on the artist's prepared board | $412,636–$687,727 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·09 | Pisa as Intended | $2,046–$2,728 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·09 | Flowing Forms (LaFranca 80) | $1,386–$2,078 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·07 | 1979 (red form) 26 x 41cm (10 1/4 x 16 1/8in) (sheet), 41 x 56.5cm (16 5/16 x 22 1/4in) (board) | $10,905–$16,357 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·07 | Sept 58 (Ramos) | $21,319–$29,610 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·06 | March 1962 (Phrygia) 48.8 x 42.5 cm. (19 1/4 x 16 3/4 in.) (including the artist's prepared backboard) | $166,200–$249,300 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·06 | June 15-47 (Foxy) 18 x 18.4 cm. (7 x 7 1/4 in.) | $166,200–$249,300 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·06 | Feb 20 - 52 | $110,800–$166,200 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·06 | 1965 (dust pink) | $16,620–$24,930 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·06 | Still Life on Table | $16,620–$24,930 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·06 | aug 7- 54 (aquamarine) | $20,775–$27,700 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·06 | Painting 1935 | $968,213–$1,244,846 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·06 | Feb 60 (Urbino) | $345,790–$484,107 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·06 | Aug 62 (Copernicus) | $30,000–$50,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2021·04 | Guardsmen use Shell | $977–$1,256 | Lyon & Turnbull | |||
| 2021·04 | Untitled (Ornate Gate with Tree) | $6,938–$9,713 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·04 | Still Life | $2,775–$4,163 | Bonhams | |||
| 2021·04 | Foxy & Frankie (C. 3, P.Q. II.I.b) | $15,000–$20,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2021·04 | Foxy & Frankie (C. 2, see P.Q. II.2) | $15,000–$20,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2021·03 | still life with curves (l. 107) | $694–$971 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·03 | olympic fragment (lewison 9) | $694–$971 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·03 | untitled (design for edinburgh weavers) | $1,110–$1,665 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2021·03 | Feb 28-53 (circle + cast shadow) | oil and pencil on canvas-board, mounted on the artist's prepared board | $97,412–$139,160 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·03 | 1970 (Holkham Sands no. 3) | pencil and oil wash on paper, on the artist's prepared board | $11,133–$16,699 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·03 | 1946 (Tibetan) | oil and pencil on panel, mounted on the artist's prepared board | $139,160–$208,740 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·03 | 1970 (Lavenham no. 1) | pencil and oil wash on paper | $11,133–$16,699 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·03 | 1939 (composition) | oil and pencil on board, relief, in the artist's frame | $348,119–$487,367 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·03 | 1943 (Towednack, Cornwall) | oil and pencil on board, with paper relief | $139,248–$208,872 | Christie's | ||
| 2021·03 | 1945 (St Ives) | oil, pencil and gouache on board | $167,097–$250,646 | Christie's | ||
| 2020·12 | 1979 (red form) 26 x 41cm (10 1/4 x 16 1/8in) (sheet), 41 x 56.5cm (16 5/16 x 22 1/4in) (board) | $16,261–$24,392 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·11 | [no title recorded] | — | Dorotheum | |||
| 2020·11 | 1967 (pillar in monastery at Patmos) 66 x 51 cm. (26 x 20 1/8 in.) (including the Artist's prepared backboard) | $9,295–$13,279 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·11 | 1970 (Blue Jug) | $7,958–$10,611 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·11 | illustration to a children's story (george and rufus) | $79,580–$106,107 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·11 | 1961, October (Paros, Londini) | $7,958–$10,611 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·11 | 1928 (Hare Hill) | $159,161–$238,741 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·11 | 1972 (Composition) | $6,632–$10,611 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·11 | vineyard in winter, cortivallo | $33,158–$46,422 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·11 | Untitled (Double sided drawing) | $7,958–$10,611 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·07 | ben nicholson | composition, 1933 | $156,108–$234,163 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·07 | ben nicholson | aug 1960 (milan) | $52,036–$78,054 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·07 | ben nicholson | full moon, lucca, sept 1956 | $15,611–$23,416 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·07 | ben nicholson | 1965 (ticino) | $9,106–$13,009 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·07 | ben nicholson, o.m. | 1933 (girl in a mirror) | $64,402–$103,043 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·07 | Sept 58 (column), 1958 | Pencil drawing and watercolor Estimate: € 9,000 / $ 10,260 Sold: € 12,500 / $ 14,249 (incl | $10,285–$10,285 | Ketterer Kunst | ||
| 2020·05 | December 1957 (for Jeanne Coppel) | $7,422–$9,896 | Bonhams | |||
| 2020·01 | Still Life with Grey | $3,281–$4,594 | Phillips | |||
| 2020·01 | aug 58 (2 circles & green) | oil wash and pencil on carved board, relief, on the artist's prepared board | $131,304–$196,957 | Christie's | ||
| 2020·01 | 1934 (white relief) | oil on carved board | $392,156–$653,593 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·12 | Abstract Composition | $2,614–$3,920 | Bonhams | |||
| 2019·12 | Goblet Forms | $1,045–$1,568 | Bonhams | |||
| 2019·12 | Turkish Forms | $1,045–$1,568 | Bonhams | |||
| 2019·12 | Nov 23-51 ( Still Life on a Yellow Ground) , 1951 | mixed media on paper | $10,000–$15,000 | Freeman's | Hindman | ||
| 2019·11 | Coffee table top still life | $6,442–$9,018 | Bonhams | |||
| 2019·11 | 1981 Ronco | ink and oil wash on paper, on the artist's prepared board | $19,447–$32,412 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·11 | (Italian mountain village) variation no. 3 | ink, oil wash and etching on paper | $7,779–$10,372 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·11 | Oct 55 olive tree (Monte Oliveto) | pencil and oil wash on card | $9,075–$12,965 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·11 | 1972 (Yockluthwaite in rain) | pencil and oil wash, on the artist's prepared board | $12,965–$19,447 | Christie's | ||
| 2019·11 | ben nicholson | 1970 (one plain, one curly goblet) | $10,322–$15,482 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2019·11 | dec 15 - 49 - still life (blue) | $1,032,165–$1,548,247 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2019·11 | ben nicholson | dec 63 (yellowstone head) | $38,706–$51,608 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2019·11 | Two Forms 64.8 x 47 cm. (25 1/2 x 18 1/2 in.) (including the artist's prepared backboard) | $12,902–$19,353 | Bonhams | |||
| 2019·11 | Nov. 62 (Verona Goblets) | Pencil and oil wash on paper | — | Heritage Auctions | ||
| 2019·11 | feb 15 - 49 (siena) | $516,082–$774,124 | Sotheby's | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $19, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.