Jules Dalou Auction Prices and Value Guide

Jules Dalou auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 978 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Jules Dalou auction prices: quick answer

Jules Dalou auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Jules Dalou
Source records
978
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Jules Dalou

Aimé-Jules Dalou (1838–1902) was a French sculptor celebrated for his unpretentious realism, expressive figural modeling, and technical accomplishment. Born and active in Paris, Dalou produced portrait busts, narrative relief panels, and large-scale public monuments rooted in mythological, historical, and contemporary genre subjects. He spent much of the 1870s in London, where he taught at the National Art Training Schools and influenced a generation of British sculptors including Harry Bates and Alfred Drury. Following his return to France he received prominent public commissions, among them the Triumph of the Republic at the Place de la Nation in Paris. His work is held by major institutions including the Tate, the Musée d'Orsay, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, and his bronzes appear regularly at international auction.

Realism (19th-century French sculpture)sculpture (bronze, plaster, terracotta)portraitfiguremythologyhistory

Common works and media

Dalou is most frequently encountered at auction in bronze — including reductions of monumental groups, portrait busts, and small-scale figurines. Terracotta sketches and plaster maquettes also appear, along with relief plaques depicting mythological or allegorical subjects. Portrait busts of notable contemporaries and expressive figure studies are well represented in both museum and auction records.

Market and appraisal context

Jules Dalou maintains a substantial and liquid secondary market with 313 catalogued auction lots spanning 2002–2026, of which 208 carry recorded prices. The price distribution is wide: the median is €3,000, the interquartile range runs from €950 to €6,500, and the recorded maximum reaches €362,500 — reflecting the gap between small-edition bronze reductions and unique or large-scale plaster maquettes. Market activity is increasing, with 49 priced lots in the most recent 12-month window versus 33 in the prior period. Sales are concentrated in Parisian houses (Crait-Muller, Artcurial, Piasa, Tajan, OXIO) with regular appearances at Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonhams, Lyon & Turnbull, and Sworders, indicating healthy international demand. Common sale pieces include bronze reductions of monumental groups such as Le Triomphe de la République, portrait busts in bronze and terracotta, figure studies like the Baigneuse, and small-scale genre models of workers and peasants.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • 19th-century European sculpture
  • bronze sculpture
  • figurative sculpture
  • portrait busts
  • terracotta and plaster maquettes

Value drivers

  1. Medium — bronze casts generally command stronger results than plaster or terracotta versions
  2. Subject matter — portrait busts, figurative groups, and mythological subjects each attract distinct collector markets
  3. Foundry marks and edition numbers are key attribution and value indicators for bronze casts
  4. Provenance and condition, including quality of surface patination, influence value
  5. Medium — bronze casts consistently achieve the strongest results; terracotta sketches and plaster maquettes sell at lower but still meaningful levels
  6. Scale and edition — large or unique pieces command premiums; small-edition bronze reductions of monumental groups are common and valued based on foundry, edition number, and condition

Appraisal caveats

  • 978 auction lots are recorded, indicating a substantial and active secondary market; individual results vary widely by medium, size, subject, and condition.
  • Dalou bronzes were produced by multiple foundries over several decades; attribution should reference foundry marks, edition numbers, and documentation where available.
  • The price range of €40 to €362,500 reflects the full spectrum from minor terracotta fragments or studio items to major bronze groups; any appraisal must be based on comparables matched by medium, size, subject, and edition type, not the overall range.
  • Some recent lots in the source pack lack published prices (noted as null), which may indicate unsold lots, withdrawn items, or post-sale private negotiations. These lots are excluded from the price distribution but should not be interpreted as evidence of zero value.

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 Jules Dalou

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Jules Dalou 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 Jules Dalou artwork?

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