French, 1944–2021
Christian Boltanski
145results on record
75%sell-through
$31,427median result (USD, incl. premium; 98% observed, 2% estimated from hammer)
$158,500record in our coverage
Drawn from 145 recorded results (130 sold · 15 passed) across 11 auction houses, 1998–2026. 1 upcoming lot on the ledger. What we cover
Median sold price by year typical estimate range median result USD, incl. premium; 98% observed, 2% 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| photography | 46 | 80% | $32,900 |
| ceramics & design | 14 | 100% | $28,184 |
| other | 6 | 100% | $7,567 |
| prints | 3 | n/a | $750 |
Medium is recorded for 69 of 145 results (48%) — rows above cover that subset; the rest of the record is in the full ledger below.
Compared with Andy Warhol Christian Boltanski Andy Warhol
| Metric | Christian Boltanski | Andy Warhol |
|---|---|---|
| Median result | $31,427 | $32,500 |
| Record price | $158,500 | $195,040,000 |
| Results on record | 145 | 15,103 |
| Years active at auction | 1998–2026 | 1998–2026 |
Related artists: Andy WarholVictor VasarelySam FrancisJean Dubuffet
Market strength liquidity score, 0–100 · method
72/ 100
- Sell-through75%
- Meets estimate55%
- Market depth145 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christie's | 56 | 100% | $30,030 | — |
| Sotheby's | 53 | 81% | $45,394 | 0.80× |
| Bonhams | 10 | 80% | $3,055 | 0.92× |
| Phillips | 10 | 70% | $33,020 | — |
| Artcurial | 6 | — | $16,622 | 0.91× |
| Rago | 3 | 67% | $761 | — |
| Wright | 2 | 50% | $1,275 | — |
| Yair gallery | 1 | 100% | $375 | — |
| Dorotheum | 2 | 50% | $42,638 | — |
| VAN HAM Kunstauktionen GmbH Co. KG | 2 | 50% | $40,991 | 0.75× |
| Lyon & Turnbull | 2 | 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 148 recorded lots — sold, passed, and upcoming — results in USD incl. premium; est. marks a premium estimated from the house's schedule ✓ Includes 15 passed lots
| Date | Lot | Medium | vs. estimate | Estimate USD | Result USD, incl. premium | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026·09 | Reconstitution, 1990 [Whitechapel Box Set] | $108–$162 | upcoming | Chiswick Auctions | ||
| 97 realized prices on this page are locked. A Research Pass reads 50 of them for $19, once — buy a pass | ||||||
| 2026·07 | Reliquaire (Le Fête de Pourim) | $30,000–$50,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2026·03 | Composition Decorative (Set of 6) - 1976 | $3,310–$4,635 | Lyon & Turnbull | |||
| 2026·03 | Composition Photographique (Le Soldat de Bois) - 1977 | $3,972–$6,621 | Lyon & Turnbull | |||
| 2026·03 | Boite de biscuit | $2,316–$3,474 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2025·07 | Favorite Objects | $700–$900 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·06 | Saynètes Comiques : La grossesse de la mère 1974 | $2,285–$3,427 | Bonhams | |||
| 2025·04 | Les Morts pour rire | $13,648–$17,060 | Bonhams | |||
| 2024·11 | El Caso (for Parkett No. 22) | $1,000–$1,500 | Rago | |||
| 2024·09 | Monument | $25,000–$35,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2024·04 | Ensemble de 2 oeuvres "Monument polaroïd" - 1983-85 | Photographies en couleur | $3,252–$4,336 | Artcurial | ||
| 2023·11 | Sam Francis: Untitled | $27,328–$38,258 | VAN HAM Kunstauktionen GmbH Co. KG | |||
| 2023·11 | Jewish School, Große Hamburger Straße, Berlin 1939 | $32,793–$54,655 | VAN HAM Kunstauktionen GmbH Co. KG | |||
| 2023·10 | Monument | $21,921–$30,446 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·10 | Réserve (Bruxelles) | $30,000–$40,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·07 | Tiroir | $10,456–$15,684 | Phillips | |||
| 2023·06 | Boîte de biscuits 1969 | $2,143–$3,215 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·06 | Demande au Père Mariano | $8,574–$15,004 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2023·06 | Boite de biscuits 1969 | $2,143–$3,215 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·04 | The School of Grosse Hamburgerstrasse, Berlin, 1939: seven prints | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2023·03 | Archive of the Carnegie International and Reconstitution | $500–$700 | Rago | |||
| 2023·03 | Dispersion, 1991 | $42–$63 | Bonhams | |||
| 2023·03 | Gymnasium Chases | $3,000–$5,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2022·12 | Tiroir | $10,529–$15,794 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2022·12 | Demande au père Mariano | $10,529–$15,794 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2022·12 | Monument | $12,545–$18,817 | Christie's | |||
| 2022·12 | Récit-Souvenir 1971 | $2,614–$3,659 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·10 | Monument | $20,145–$27,979 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2022·07 | Autel Chases | $20,000–$30,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2022·06 | Récit-Souvenir 1971 | $4,297–$6,446 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·06 | La Fête du Pourim | $42,956–$64,434 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2022·05 | L'Ecole de la Grosse Hamburger Strabe, en 1938, 1991 | $2,103–$3,505 | Bonhams | |||
| 2022·05 | 7 Bougies - Les ombres | cuivre oxydé, fil, étain, argile, aluminium, bougies et cire; en sept parties | $15,834–$21,112 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·04 | Untitled | $2,135–$3,202 | Christie's | |||
| 2022·04 | Maladie (Illness) | metal tin, cotton, wood and metal in a wooden box | $5,337–$7,472 | Christie's | ||
| 2022·03 | Artist's books, twenty-three | $2,000–$3,000 | Rago | |||
| 2022·03 | Les élèves de l'école secondaire juive de la grosse Hamburger Strasse, Berlin - Avril - 1938 | $2,000–$3,000 | Christie's | |||
| 2021·10 | Gymnasium Chases | $15,000–$25,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2021·04 | Conversation Piece | $15,000–$25,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·12 | Les Habitants - 2007 | Installation de 16 structures en carton et scotch noir, photographies en noir & blanc et 12 néons | $18,164–$24,218 | Artcurial | ||
| 2020·12 | Monument | $18,238–$24,318 | Christie's | |||
| 2020·07 | conversation piece | $30,000–$50,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2020·06 | [no title recorded] | — | Dorotheum | |||
| 2019·09 | gymnasium chases | $8,000–$12,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2019·06 | Shadows from the Lessons of Darkness | $25,428–$38,142 | Phillips | |||
| 2019·06 | les habits de françois c. (24 parts) | $22,532–$33,798 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2019·06 | Ecole de Grosse Hamburgerstrasse (Les enfants cachés) | huile sur tirage argentique noir et blanc | $11,257–$16,886 | Christie's | ||
| 2018·12 | Lovebird and plant | $22,708–$34,062 | Christie's | |||
| 2018·10 | Portrait of Two Boys with Binoculars | $40,000–$60,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2018·06 | Lycée Chases | $39,522–$52,696 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2018·06 | [no title recorded] | — | Dorotheum | |||
| 2018·05 | Untitled from the Monument Odessa | $50,000–$70,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2017·12 | Reliquaire | $23,634–$35,451 | Christie's | |||
| 2017·12 | Monument Odessa | $70,902–$94,536 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2017·12 | Saynètes comiques - La mort du grand père | cinq photographies noir et blanc et gouache sur papier | $4,727–$7,090 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·10 | Monument | 34 photographies, cadres en métal, ampoules et système électrique sur panneau | $47,272–$70,908 | Christie's | ||
| 2017·09 | (French, born 1944) | — | Yair gallery | |||
| 2016·11 | Reliquaire | $37,438–$62,397 | Phillips | |||
| 2016·07 | Die Jüdische Schule (Berlin 1939) | $700–$1,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2016·06 | Saynètes comiques - La mort du grand père | cinq photographies noir et blanc et gouache sur papier | $7,913–$11,304 | Unsold listing | Christie's | |
| 2016·06 | Réserve (La fête du Pourim) | $45,216–$67,824 | Christie's | |||
| 2016·06 | Vitrine de référence | $16,956–$22,608 | Christie's | |||
| 2016·06 | Monument | $33,912–$45,216 | Unsold listing | Christie's | ||
| 2015·12 | Saynètes comiques - The Father's austerity | cinq photographies noir et blanc et gouache sur papier | $6,565–$8,753 | Christie's | ||
| 2015·11 | Reliquaire, Les Linges | grillage métallique, acier, drap en coton, ampoule et système électrique | $8,581–$12,871 | Christie's | ||
| 2015·11 | Monument | $40,000–$60,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2015·11 | Reserve | fifty-four tin boxes, gelatin silver print and lamp | $30,000–$50,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2015·11 | Fabrication de 600 petits couteaux, juin à septembre 1970, vitrine n. 4 | wood box construction--razorblades, thread, wire, fabric, paint and felt | $30,000–$40,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2015·07 | Ecole de Grosse Hamburgerstrasse (Les Enfants Cachés) | $31,159–$46,738 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2015·06 | L'Ecole de la Grosse Hamburger Strasse, en 1938 | $4,000–$6,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2015·05 | Monument | $30,000–$40,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2015·03 | Vitrine de Référence I | $17,960–$26,940 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2015·03 | Tiroir | $14,967–$22,450 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2014·12 | Tiroir | $9,865–$14,797 | Christie's | |||
| 2014·11 | 7 Bougies - les ombres | oxidized copper, wire, tin, clay, aluminium, candles and wax in seven parts | $18,720–$24,960 | Christie's | ||
| 2014·06 | l'ecole de la grosse hamburger strasse, en 1938 | $4,000–$6,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2014·06 | Reliquaire | $40,881–$54,508 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2014·04 | The School of Grosse Hamburgerstrasse, Berlin, 1939 | $4,978–$8,296 | Phillips | |||
| 2014·04 | Untitled | $50,000–$70,000 | Phillips | |||
| 2013·12 | Monument Polaroid, 1985 | Polaroïd dans emboîtage | $2,037–$2,716 | Artcurial | ||
| 2013·12 | Composition Primitive Masque, 1983 | Polaroïd sur papier | $8,147–$10,862 | Artcurial | ||
| 2013·11 | Sans titre | ensemble de seize photographies en couleurs montées sur carton | $2,709–$4,064 | Christie's | ||
| 2013·11 | Japanische gartën, 1985 | $3,000–$5,000 | Bonhams | |||
| 2013·06 | Réserve-La Fête de Pourim | $39,354–$52,472 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2013·06 | les bougies (12)("shadows" from the lesson of darkness) | $39,354–$52,472 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2013·05 | Les Bougies (Five Candle Piece) | five elements--oxidized copper, wire, tin, candles and wax | $30,000–$40,000 | Christie's | ||
| 2013·05 | Monument | $40,000–$60,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2012·12 | Monument, 1986 | Installation de 18 tirages cibachromes couleur, caisson électrique et 9 ampoules | $19,598–$26,130 | Artcurial | ||
| 2012·11 | Monument | $60,000–$80,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2012·11 | Reserve | $50,000–$70,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2012·09 | Vitrine de référence | $25,832–$38,748 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2012·09 | monument : la fête de pourim | $38,748–$51,664 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2011·12 | Les Bougies, 1986 | Installation de 5 figurines en cuivre oxydé, bougies et supports en métal | $40,182–$53,576 | Artcurial | ||
| 2011·11 | Odessa Monument | $50,000–$70,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2011·11 | Réliquaire | $50,000–$70,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2011·10 | réserves: la fête de pourim | $15,783–$23,675 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2011·05 | Shadows from the Lessons of Darkness | $80,000–$120,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2010·11 | Autel Chases | $40,000–$60,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2010·09 | Portrait of Two Boys with Binoculars | $20,000–$30,000 | Sotheby's | |||
| 2010·09 | l'ecole de la grosse hamburger strasse, en 1938 | $3,000–$5,000 | Sotheby's | |||
Realized prices are sold by the record: 50 for $19, non-expiring. Reading them at volume is what Starter is for.