Frank Vining Smith Auction Prices and Value Guide

Frank Vining Smith auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 247 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Frank Vining Smith auction prices: quick answer

Frank Vining Smith auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Frank Vining Smith
Source records
247
Market update
2026-02-16

Artist context

About Frank Vining Smith

Frank Vining Smith (1879–1967) was an American painter born in Whitman, Massachusetts, best known for his accomplished marine scenes depicting sailing ships. Active during the first half of the twentieth century, Smith built a reputation for detailed renderings of clipper ships, schooners, and other sailing vessels that appealed to yachting enthusiasts and maritime collectors. His paintings are held at the Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club in Michigan, reflecting the strong patronage he received from American yachting communities. Smith's work sits within the broader tradition of American marine painting, a genre that has sustained collector interest from the nineteenth century through the present day.

oil paintingmarine scenessailing ships

Common works and media

Smith's output consists primarily of oil on canvas and oil on board marine paintings. Typical subjects include full-rigged sailing ships, clipper ships, schooners, racing yachts, and harbor or coastal scenes. Works range from smaller cabinet-size panels to larger exhibition-scale canvases. Reproductions and prints of his more popular compositions also circulate in the secondary market and should be distinguished from original paintings during appraisal.

Market and appraisal context

Frank Vining Smith's paintings appear regularly at auction, typically classified under Marine Art or American Paintings. Works depicting fully rigged sailing vessels—especially clipper ships and racing yachts—are the most commonly encountered and generally the most competitive at sale. Provenance linking a work to a yacht club or notable maritime collection can add measurable premium. As with most twentieth-century American painters, appraisal value depends on the painting's size, condition, the specificity of the ship depicted, and the quality of documentation. Collectors should verify attribution carefully, as marine painting has a long tradition of workshop and follower production.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Subject matter — depictions of fully rigged sailing vessels and clipper ships tend to be the most sought-after subjects
  2. Size and condition — larger well-preserved oils on canvas command stronger results
  3. Provenance and exhibition history — documented exhibition records or yacht-club commissions add value

Appraisal caveats

  • Market data is derived from authority files and biographical sources only; specific auction records were not included in the source pack. Actual realized prices require review of individual lot records.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

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.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Frank Vining Smith

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Frank Vining Smith 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 Frank Vining Smith artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.