Barbara Hepworth Auction Prices and Value Guide
Barbara Hepworth auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 990 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Barbara Hepworth auction prices: quick answer
Barbara Hepworth auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Barbara Hepworth
- Source records
- 990
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Barbara Hepworth
Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975) was a British sculptor and one of the defining figures of twentieth-century modern art. Born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, she studied at the Leeds School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London before establishing herself as a pioneer of direct carving in wood and stone. Hepworth is celebrated for her pierced, organic abstract forms that draw on the human figure, landscape, and natural geometry. During the Second World War she settled in St Ives, Cornwall, becoming a central figure in the artists' colony there alongside Ben Nicholson and Naum Gabo. Her studio and sculpture garden in St Ives are now maintained by Tate as the Barbara Hepworth Museum. Major public commissions, including the United Nations Single Form in New York, cemented her international reputation. The Hepworth Estate continues to manage her legacy from St Ives, and The Hepworth Wakefield museum is dedicated to her work.
ModernismModern SculptureDirect CarvingSt Ives SchoolCarved woodCarved stoneBronzeStringed sculptureAbstract organic formsHuman figure and family groups
Common works and media
Hepworth's body of work spans carved wood and stone sculptures, bronze casts (often in numbered editions), stringed constructions, plaster maquettes, lithographic prints, and ink drawings. Common subjects include single and grouped abstract forms, pierced oval and spherical shapes, standing figures, and family groups. Editioned bronze multiples of well-known compositions appear regularly at auction, alongside unique carvings and works on paper. Late multi-part group sculptures such as The Family of Man and Conversation with Magic Stones are among her most recognised public works.
Market and appraisal context
Barbara Hepworth's auction market is deep and globally distributed, with 374 recorded lots spanning 1992 to March 2026 and 312 priced results. The price distribution is extremely wide: realised prices range from $20 AUD for reference books to $9.61 million USD for a large bronze from The Family of Man series (Christie's, May 2025). The median price of $3,400 USD reflects the frequent turnover of lithographs, prints, and smaller works on paper, while the 75th percentile at $114,000 marks the threshold where editioned bronzes and unique carvings begin to dominate. Major bronze sculptures from signature series—particularly The Family of Man and Single Form—routely achieve seven-figure results at Christie's and Sotheby's. Recent top results include $4.955 million for Family of Man (Figure 5, Parent II) and $3.125 million for Two Forms in Echelon, both at Christie's New York in November 2025, and $9.61 million for Family of Man: Figure 2, Ancestor II at Christie's in May 2025. Mid-tier editioned bronzes such as Helius ($95,000, Bonhams 2021) and Involute ($70,000, Leonard Auction 2025) show a healthy collecting tier between $50,000 and $500,000. Lithographs from the Twelve Lithographs and Opposing Forms series trade in the $1,800–$4,000 range, providing an accessible entry point. The 13 lots recorded in the most recent 12-month period (versus 11 in the prior 12 months) indicate stable liquidity with no sign of market contraction.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Bronze
- Carved wood
- Carved stone
- Stringed sculpture
- Drawing
Value drivers
- Medium: carved wood and stone originals command the highest values; bronze editions are more commonly encountered at auction
- Edition size and foundry marks matter for bronzes; unique carvings are typically more significant
- Provenance linking to the Hepworth Estate or major public exhibitions adds value
- Condition: outdoor bronzes require careful condition assessment; carved works are sensitive to surface changes
- Date of execution: early carved works from the 1930s and stringed sculptures are particularly sought after
- Drawings and works on paper appear regularly at auction and are more accessible entry points
Appraisal caveats
- Attribution should reference the Hepworth Estate or published catalogue entries; unsigned works require expert authentication.
- Large-scale public sculptures rarely appear on the open market; values for maquettes and editions may differ significantly from monumental works.
- Appraisal values should reference comparable public auction results from major houses for the specific medium and period.
- Auction records include 312 priced lots out of 374 total; 62 lots lacked realised prices, which may include bought-in (unsold) lots that would affect market perception if quantified.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Library of Congress library authority
- RKD library authority
- Barbara Hepworth Estate artist estate or foundation
- Tate museum or university
- VIAF library authority
- Wikidata library authority
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 Barbara Hepworth 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 Barbara Hepworth artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.