Mogens Balle Auction Prices and Value Guide
Mogens Balle auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 212 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Mogens Balle auction prices: quick answer
Mogens Balle auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Mogens Balle
- Source records
- 212
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Mogens Balle
Mogens Balle (full name Mogens Erik Schack Balle, 1921–1988) was a Danish painter and illustrator associated with the CoBrA movement, the experimental artists' group active from 1948 to 1951 that championed spontaneous, expressive painting rooted in myth, folk art, and the unconscious. Born in Asminderud, Denmark, Balle worked alongside other Scandinavian and Dutch artists who rejected academic convention in favor of raw, gestural abstraction. His work is represented in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and is documented in major scholarly references including the Bénézit Dictionary of Artists, the Weilbach Danish artist lexicon, and the Saur Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon. He is buried at Vaerslev, Denmark. Collectors most frequently encounter Balle's work through Post-War European art sales and CoBrA-school auction groupings.
CoBrApaintingillustration
Common works and media
Collectors are likely to encounter oil and acrylic paintings on canvas, works on paper including ink and gouache drawings, and prints. Subject matter typically reflects CoBrA interests: semi-abstract figuration, animal and mythological motifs, and improvisational compositions with bold color. Illustrated books and collaborative CoBrA editions also appear on the market. Condition assessment should address the paper support and pigment stability common to post-war works on paper.
Market and appraisal context
Mogens Balle's works appear regularly on the secondary market, with over 200 documented auction and appraisal records. Valuation is influenced by the work's connection to the CoBrA movement, medium and scale, provenance clarity, condition, and whether the piece can be securely attributed to Balle rather than another member of the Balle family of Danish painters. Institutional holdings, including MoMA, provide a benchmark for quality. Appraisers should verify signature, date, and exhibition history, and compare against realized prices for comparable CoBrA-school works by artists of similar standing.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Post-War European paintings
- CoBrA school works on paper and canvas
Value drivers
- Association with the CoBrA movement significantly affects market interest and comparable pricing
- 212 documented auction and appraisal records in the Appraisily/Invaluable dataset indicate regular secondary-market circulation
- Inclusion in major reference works (Bénézit, Weilbach, Saur Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon, Vollmer) supports attribution confidence
- Museum representation at MoMA provides institutional validation
Appraisal caveats
- CoBrA-attributed works require careful provenance documentation, as works by lesser-known group members are sometimes misattributed to more prominent figures
- The Balle family includes multiple Danish painters; confirm full name and signature to avoid confusion
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- RKD (Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie) library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF library authority
- Wikidata library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
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 Mogens Balle 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 Mogens Balle artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.