Henry (1898) Moore Auction Prices and Value Guide
Henry (1898) Moore auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 7,660 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Henry (1898) Moore auction prices: quick answer
Henry (1898) Moore auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Henry (1898) Moore
- Source records
- 7,660
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Henry (1898) Moore
Henry Spencer Moore (1898-1986) is widely regarded as one of the most influential British sculptors of the 20th century. Born in Castleford, Yorkshire, he studied at the Leeds School of Art and the Royal College of Art before developing a distinctive practice centered on semi-abstract figurative sculpture. Moore is best known for his reclining figure and mother-and-child compositions in bronze and carved stone, which draw on classical, African, and pre-Columbian sources while remaining rooted in direct observation of natural forms. During World War II he produced the celebrated Shelter Drawings depicting Londoners in Underground stations. His monumental bronzes occupy public sites worldwide, and he received the Order of Merit and Companion of Honour. The Henry Moore Foundation, which the artist established, continues to manage his estate and promote sculpture.
ModernismBritish Modern SculptureDirect Carving movementBronzeMarbleWood carvingDrawingReclining figuresMother and childAbstract organic forms
Common works and media
Moore's most commonly encountered works at auction include editioned bronze sculptures (reclining figures, mother-and-child groups, helmet heads, and internal/external forms), original drawings (particularly the wartime Shelter Drawings), lithographic prints, and small-scale maquettes. Carved stone and wood sculptures appear less frequently. Prints and lithographs are relatively accessible entry points for collectors, while large-scale bronzes represent the highest tier of the market.
Market and appraisal context
Henry Moore's secondary market is exceptionally deep and liquid, with 2,809 auction lots tracked by Appraisily spanning from late 1998 to April 2026, of which 1,936 carry a recorded price. The price distribution is extremely wide: the minimum recorded price is $3 (posters and reproduction prints), the median is $1,500, the 75th percentile is $25,000, and the ceiling reaches $26.3 million for monumental bronzes at the top tier. Over the most recent 12 months, 215 lots appeared at auction, down moderately from 267 in the prior 12-month window, suggesting sustained but slightly softening volume. The dominant auction houses are Christie's and Sotheby's, where major sculptures and important drawings concentrate, while mid-tier and regional houses (Forum Auctions, Bonhams, Dreweatts 1759, Waddington's, RoGallery, Gilden's Art Gallery) handle the bulk of prints, etchings, and smaller works. The 24 most recent lots are overwhelmingly prints and etchings priced between $25 and $1,600, with two notable exceptions: a signed bronze "Two Standing Women" that realized $22,000 at Revere Auctions (Sep 2025) and a 1950 drawing "Study for the Death of Mira (Prométhée)" that realized $20,000 at Freeman's | Hindman (Oct 2025). This bifurcation—accessible prints at auction for a few hundred dollars versus rare bronzes and drawings commanding five to seven figures—is the defining feature of the Moore market.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Post-War and Contemporary Art
- Modern British Art
- Impressionist and Modern Art
- Bronze
- Drawing
Value drivers
- Scale: full-size bronzes command significantly higher prices than maquettes or working models
- Subject: reclining figures and mother-and-child themes are the most sought-after subjects
- Provenance: works with direct artist or Henry Moore Foundation provenance carry a premium
- Edition: bronze casts are editioned; edition number and total size affect value
- Authenticity: the Henry Moore Foundation provides authentication services for works
- Medium: unique carvings in stone or wood are rarer at auction than editioned bronzes
Appraisal caveats
- Henry Moore is one of the most widely replicated sculptors of the 20th century; authentication through the Henry Moore Foundation is strongly recommended
- Editioned bronze casts exist in multiple sizes; a small maquette may share the same title as a monumental version but is a distinct work. Size, edition number, and medium must be verified.
- The price distribution is extremely wide ($3 to $26.3 million). A single price quote without specifying medium, scale, edition, and provenance is not meaningful for appraisal.
- Auction volume dipped from 267 lots (prior 12 months) to 215 lots (most recent 12 months), a ~19% decline that may reflect normal fluctuation or softening demand. This should be monitored.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Tate museum or university
- Museum of Modern Art museum or university
- Henry Moore Foundation artist estate or foundation
- Encyclopaedia Britannica encyclopedia
- Metropolitan Museum of Art museum or university
- Christie's major auction house
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 Henry (1898) Moore 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 Henry (1898) Moore artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.