Donald Friend Auction Prices and Value Guide
Donald Friend auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 1,947 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Donald Friend auction prices: quick answer
Donald Friend auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Donald Friend
- Source records
- 1,947
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Donald Friend market snapshot
Donald Friend shows very deep auction liquidity with 1,294 tracked lots. Median realized sale is around $1,600. Category concentration is still broad or sparse. Last 12 months recorded 94 sales. Latest recorded sale: 2026-01-22.
Realized price distribution
- Under $1,000 (41.2% · 346 sales)
- $1,000 to $10,000 (46.6% · 391 sales)
- $10,000+ (12.2% · 102 sales)
- Median sale (last 12 months)
- $1,200
- Sales recorded (last 12 months)
- 94
- Median shift vs prior year
- +33.3%
- Latest recorded sale
- 2026-01-22
Artist context
About Donald Friend
Born
1915
Died
1989
Nationality
Australian
Donald Friend (1915-1989) was an Australian painter, draughtsman, printmaker, illustrator, watercolourist and writer. Born and died in Sydney, he studied at the Westminster School of Art in London under Mark Gertler and Bernard Meninsky, and held his first solo exhibition in London in 1938. Friend also lived and worked in West Africa from 1938 to 1940 before returning to Australia, and he spent much of his life overseas. His practice includes paintings, drawings, watercolours, prints and illustrations, while his diaries provide an important record of his life and artistic milieu. Collectors may encounter Friend through works on paper, paintings and mixed-media material in public auction records. Identification benefits from comparing the medium, date, subject, signature, provenance and catalogue references with documented examples of his work.
PaintingDrawing and works on paperWatercolourPrintmaking
Common works and media
Auction and appraisal contexts may include Donald Friend’s paintings, drawings, watercolours, prints and illustrations, along with works on paper, mixed-media pieces and editions. His documented occupations include painter, draughtsman, printmaker, illustrator and watercolourist, so the medium should be confirmed from the object itself and its catalogue description. Useful comparison points include dimensions, support, technique, date or career period, subject matter, signature or inscription, edition details, provenance and exhibition history.
Market and appraisal context
Donald Friend’s public auction record spans paintings, works on paper, prints, mixed media and decorative-art or edition categories. Appraisal depends on the specific object rather than on an artist-wide typical result: medium, dimensions, date and period can materially affect comparison, as can condition, restoration, surface quality, signature, inscriptions, edition information and attribution confidence. Provenance, exhibition history and catalogue references may strengthen an identification. Recent comparable sales are useful when they closely match the work’s medium, scale, subject and date. Public results do not capture every private sale and may differ in whether buyer premiums or fees are included.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Fine art and paintings
- Works on paper and prints
- Sculpture and mixed media
- Decorative art and editions
Value drivers
- Medium, dimensions, date and period within the artist's career
- Condition, restoration history and surface quality
- Signature, inscriptions, edition details and attribution confidence
- Provenance, exhibition history and catalogue references
- Recent comparable auction sales for similar works
- Subject matter, rarity and current market demand
Appraisal caveats
- Public auction records are a starting point rather than a final appraisal.
- Private sales, incomplete feeds and attribution changes may not be fully represented.
- Auction totals may include buyer premiums or fees depending on how results are reported.
- Authentication and condition can materially change value.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- British Museum museum or university
- VIAF library authority
- Wikidata library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- Appraisily appraisily artist page
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 Donald Friend 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 Donald Friend artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.