Meret Oppenheim Auction Prices and Value Guide

Meret Oppenheim auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 515 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Meret Oppenheim auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
Meret Oppenheim
Source records
515
Market update
2026-02-16

Artist context

About Meret Oppenheim

Meret Oppenheim (1913–1985) was a German-born Swiss artist recognized as one of the most original voices of the Surrealist movement. Born in Charlottenburg, Berlin, she studied at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris before joining André Breton's inner circle in the early 1930s as its youngest member. Her fur-covered teacup, saucer, and spoon — Object (1936) — entered the Museum of Modern Art's collection and became one of the most iconic Surrealist works ever made. Oppenheim's practice extended well beyond that single object: she produced sculpture, painting, collage, photography, and poetry across five decades. After studying at the Gewerbeschule in Basel from 1938, she spent much of her career in Switzerland, where she died in 1985. Major retrospectives at MoMA and European institutions have affirmed her central place in twentieth-century art.

Surrealismsculpturephotographypaintingcollagetransformed everyday objectsself-portraitureSurrealist symbolism

Common works and media

Oppenheim worked across sculpture, painting, collage, photography, drawing, and poetry. Works most commonly encountered at auction include mixed-media assemblages combining everyday objects with unconventional materials, bronze casts, oil and gouache paintings, lithographs and other editioned prints, and photographs. Her sculptural objects — especially those pairing domestic items with fur or other unexpected surfaces — are her most recognizable category. Self-portrait photographs and Surrealist collages also appear with some frequency. Material spans from her breakthrough 1930s Paris period through later series produced in Basel.

Market and appraisal context

Oppenheim's work appears at auction chiefly in Post-War and Contemporary Art and Surrealist Art sales. Her market is anchored by the cultural importance of Object (1936), though unique sculptures, paintings, and works on paper from her wider output also trade. Provenance linked to the artist's circle or documented exhibitions can materially affect value, and pieces from her 1930s Paris period tend to be the most sought after. Editioned prints and multiples exist alongside unique works, so confirming medium, edition size, and authenticity is essential. Condition, date, and association with key Surrealist exhibitions are standard appraisal factors.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Value drivers

  1. Provenance tracing to the artist's Surrealist circle or documented exhibitions materially affects value
  2. Works from the 1930s Paris period are particularly sought after by collectors of Surrealist art
  3. Medium, edition size, and confirmation of authenticity are essential for prints and multiples
  4. Condition, subject matter, and association with key Surrealist exhibitions are standard appraisal considerations

Appraisal caveats

  • Oppenheim is best known for a single iconic work; her broader output is less widely documented and prices may vary significantly by period and medium.
  • Editioned prints and multiples exist alongside unique works; distinguishing between them is important for appraisal.
  • The RKD records 27 artist works and the Invaluable scraper index lists 515 lots, suggesting a broad range of material has passed through auction — collectors should verify attribution on less familiar works.

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 Meret Oppenheim

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Meret Oppenheim 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 Meret Oppenheim artwork?

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