Alfred Manessier Auction Prices and Value Guide
Alfred Manessier auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 811 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Alfred Manessier auction prices: quick answer
Alfred Manessier auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Alfred Manessier
- Source records
- 811
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Alfred Manessier
Alfred Manessier (1911–1993) was a French abstract painter, stained glass designer, and tapestry artist associated with the post-war School of Paris and the Salon de Mai. Born in Saint-Ouen in the Somme département, he developed a distinctive non-figurative vocabulary of layered color and light that drew on both landscape and spiritual themes. Beyond easel painting, Manessier received major commissions for stained glass windows and tapestries in churches and public buildings across France and abroad, establishing him as one of the leading monumental artists of his generation. His work is represented in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate in London, and other international institutions. He died in Orléans in 1993.
New School of ParisSalon de MaiAbstract / Non-figurative artOil paintingStained glassTapestryPrintmaking / graphic artsNon-figurative / abstract compositionLiturgical / religious art (stained glass commissions)
Common works and media
Collectors and appraisers most frequently encounter Manessier's abstract oil paintings on canvas, color lithographs and etchings, tapestries woven after his designs, preparatory drawings and watercolors, and maquettes or cartoons for stained glass windows. His graphic output includes editioned prints published by French ateliers. Monumental commissions in stained glass and mosaic are typically held in situ and do not circulate on the secondary market, though related studies and working drawings occasionally appear.
Market and appraisal context
Alfred Manessier has a well-established secondary-market footprint with 513 recorded auction lots spanning 1990–2026, of which 250 carry realised prices. The price distribution is wide: the 25th percentile sits at approximately €180, the median near €1,700, and the 75th percentile around €10,000, with a ceiling of €241,300 for top-tier oil paintings. Liquidity is steady, with 30 priced lots in the most recent 12-month window versus 27 in the prior period, indicating modestly increasing turnover. Major houses—Christie's, Sotheby's, Artcurial, and Tajan—account for the strongest results, while mid-tier French and German houses (Cornette de Saint-Cyr, Ader, Millon & Associés, Auktionshaus Rotherbaum) provide consistent volume at lower price points. Oil paintings from Manessier's mature post-war abstract period command the premium tier; signed lithographs and etchings cluster below €250, making them the most accessible segment. Works on paper and watercolors occupy a middle band, typically in the low hundreds of euros. Notably, several recent lots at Rotherbaum, Artcurial, and Casco Bay went unsold, suggesting selective demand—buyers gravitate toward well-dated oils with clear provenance rather than generic or untitled works.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Oil painting
- Printmaking / graphic arts
- Drawing / works on paper
- Tapestry
- Stained glass
Value drivers
- Medium: oil paintings generally command higher prices than works on paper or prints
- Provenance and exhibition history, including museum holdings at MoMA and Tate
- Stained glass and tapestry commissions represent a distinct category from easel paintings
- Date of execution and period within the artist's career
- Edition and impression details for prints; condition reports for all media
- Medium: oil paintings on canvas consistently achieve the highest prices; lithographs and etchings trade in a much lower band
Appraisal caveats
- Auction records reflect publicly transacted lots; private sales and church commissions are typically excluded.
- Stained glass and monumental works are site-specific and rarely appear on the secondary market.
- Attribution and dating should be confirmed against published catalogues before appraisal.
- Of 513 recorded lots, only 250 (49%) carry a realised price; unsold lots are excluded from price statistics and may indicate reserve gaps or attribution concerns.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Wikidata library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- VIAF library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
- Tate museum or university
Data basis
This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.
Artist value FAQ
How much is Alfred Manessier worth?
Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.
Can Appraisily value my Alfred Manessier artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.