Frederick Machetanz Auction Prices and Value Guide
Frederick Machetanz auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 509 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Frederick Machetanz auction prices: quick answer
Frederick Machetanz auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Frederick Machetanz
- Source records
- 509
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Frederick Machetanz
Frederick (Fred) Machetanz (1908–2002) was an American painter, printmaker, and illustrator celebrated for his vivid depictions of Alaskan life, landscapes, and wildlife. Born in Kenton, Ohio, he first traveled to the Alaska Territory in 1935 to visit his uncle's trading post in Unalakleet, where he spent two years building a portfolio of northern scenes. After working as an illustrator in New York and serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II—assigned to intelligence in the Aleutian Islands—he studied lithography at the Art Students League under Will Barnet. Machetanz returned to Alaska in 1946 and devoted his career to painting and printmaking there. His stone lithographs, catalogued in a 1981 volume documenting fifty editions, are a significant part of his legacy. Collectors encounter Machetanz's work primarily through regional Alaskan galleries and auction houses specializing in Western and Alaskan art.
Alaskan regional artoil paintingstone lithographyillustrationAlaskan landscapesAlaskan wildlifeAlaskan Native people and cultureArctic and subarctic scenes
Common works and media
Machetanz is best known for original oil paintings depicting Alaskan wildlife, sled dogs, Native Alaskan communities, and expansive arctic landscapes. He also produced a substantial body of stone lithograph prints—fifty of which are catalogued in a dedicated 1981 reference volume—making his print work among the most traceable in Alaskan regional art. Earlier in his career he worked as a commercial illustrator in New York, and illustrated children's books such as Panuck, Eskimo Sled Dog (1939). Collectors may encounter paintings on canvas or board, lithographic prints, and published book illustrations.
Market and appraisal context
Machetanz's work appears at auction mainly as original oil paintings and limited-edition stone lithographs of Alaskan subjects. His catalogued body of fifty lithographs provides a defined reference for print attribution and edition verification. For oil paintings, value is influenced by subject matter (wildlife, sled dogs, Native Alaskan scenes), canvas size, condition, and documented provenance. Collectors should note that the artist signed works using both 'Fred' and 'Frederick' Machetanz. Auction records from houses specializing in Western and Alaskan regional art are the most relevant comparables.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Value drivers
- Stone lithographs are catalogued (50 known editions), providing a defined body of print work for attribution
- Oil paintings of Alaskan subjects are the most recognized medium; subject matter, size, and condition affect value
- Provenance connecting to the artist's Unalakleet or Palmer, Alaska periods may be relevant
Appraisal caveats
- No major auction-house records were available in the source pack; appraisal should consult dedicated auction databases for realized prices.
- Attribution should account for the artist's use of both 'Fred' and 'Frederick' Machetanz in signatures and records.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Wikidata library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF library authority
- Library of Congress 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 Frederick Machetanz 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 Frederick Machetanz artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.