Otto Dill Auction Prices and Value Guide
Otto Dill auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 1,004 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Otto Dill auction prices: quick answer
Otto Dill auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Otto Dill
- Source records
- 1,004
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Otto Dill
Otto Dill (1884–1957) was a German painter, lithographer, watercolorist, and draftsman, born Otto Carl Wilhelm Dill. He trained between 1908 and 1914 and was professionally active from 1917 until shortly before his death in 1957. Dill's known subjects include animal compositions, harbor scenes, and narrative or fable-inspired works, reflecting both his Pfalz regional roots and Mediterranean travels. His painting "Hafen von Bari" and the series "Im Spiegel der Fabel" point to recurring engagement with maritime and literary themes. Dill's work was selected for the art competitions at the 1928 Amsterdam and 1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, a mark of international recognition during his career. Works by Dill are held in public institutions including the Wilhelm-Hack-Museum in Ludwigshafen.
oil paintinglithographywatercolordrawinganimalsharbor and maritime scenesfable and narrative subjectsPfalz regional landscapes
Common works and media
Collectors most frequently encounter Dill's oil paintings of animals—particularly lions, tigers, and foxes—as well as harbor and coastal scenes, landscape views of the Pfalz region, and narrative compositions drawn from fable or literary subjects. Works on paper, including watercolors and lithographs, also circulate at auction. His active period from 1917 through the mid-1950s produced a substantial body of work, with RKD cataloguing over 360 image records.
Market and appraisal context
Otto Dill maintains a liquid and consistent secondary market, with 468 recorded auction lots spanning October 2004 through April 2026 and 231 of those carrying realized prices. Fifty lots appeared in the most recent 12-month window, matching the prior 12-month volume—indicating steady, undiminished market activity. The market is predominantly German-speaking, anchored by Henry's Auktionshaus (the most frequent vendor), Auktionshaus Schwab, Kunstauktionshaus Schloss Ahlden, K&K – Auktionen in Heidelberg, and Kunsthaus Lempertz KG. Prices cluster in the low hundreds of euros for works on paper (drawings, pencil sketches, and ink drawings realized €200–€460 at Henry's in late 2025–early 2026). Watercolors command a step up, with a recent example reaching €1,100. Oil paintings occupy the top tier: a titled oil 'Village Street' realized €3,700 at Henry's in December 2025, and the overall maximum recorded price is €20,000. The interquartile range (P25 €230, median €420, P75 €2,000) confirms a market where modestly priced works on paper dominate volume while oils and more ambitious compositions generate significantly higher results. All recorded sales are denominated in EUR.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- oil painting
- lithography
- watercolor
- drawing
Value drivers
- Medium: oil paintings generally command higher prices than works on paper (watercolors, drawings, prints)
- Subject matter: animal paintings and harbor scenes are among his most recognized motifs
- Provenance and exhibition history, including museum holdings such as the Wilhelm-Hack-Museum
- Condition, date of execution within his 1917–1957 active period, and attribution verification
- Medium: oil paintings command substantially higher prices (up to €20,000 recorded) than drawings (€200–€460), watercolors (~€1,100), and lithographs
- Subject matter: animal subjects (lions, tigers, foxes, horses), harbor and maritime scenes, and Ottoman/rider compositions are recurring motifs; titled or narrative works may carry a premium
Appraisal caveats
- No specific auction records, price ranges, or realized prices were available in the source pack; appraisal values should reference current comparable sales databases.
- RKD lists over 360 image records for this artist, suggesting a substantial body of work that may vary significantly in quality and value.
- Movement affiliation is not clearly documented in available sources; attribution to specific art-historical movements should be verified against scholarly catalogues.
- Of 468 recorded lots, only 231 (49%) carry realized prices; the remaining lots lack price data, which may include unsold lots, pre-sale estimates only, or post-sale data gaps, potentially skewing the observed price distribution upward.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
- VIAF (OCLC) library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- Wikidata library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- Getty Vocabulary Program 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 Otto Dill 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 Otto Dill artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.