Jake (born in 1966) and Dinos Chapman (born in 1962) are two British artists, known together as the Chapman Brothers. Their work combines provocation, irony, and deep references to historical culture.
Among the most famous works is the installation Fucking Hell, a meticulous reconstruction of hellish scenes with miniature figures, sold in a private transaction for £ 7.5 million.
Auction Trend: Price Segments of Jake and Dinos Chapman
Record values
According to the Russell Collection, the fiberglass sculptures by the Chapmans can exceed £400,000.
Among the most iconic sculptures, Two-faced Cunt (1995) reached £ 91,250 in 2011. In 2023, a “Skull Wall Panel” in two sections (fiberglass, resin, glass) was sold by Sotheby’s for £ 24,130, well above the estimate of £ 12,000–18,000.
Graphic works and prints
Portfolios like Exquisite Corpse (20 engravings) have appeared in auctions with estimates of £ 4,000–6,000.
A screen print without signature or numbering, titled “Screen” (1997), was auctioned on Setdart for an estimate of € 2,500–2,600.
On the side of contemporary prints, a specimen of Glitter Glitter Everywhere has modest estimates, often between £ 700 and £ 1,000.
Resin sculptures and other editions by Jake and Dinos Chapman
In a Phillips auction in 2023, a resin sculpture “The same thing only smaller, or …”, edition of 12 (2005), had an estimate of £ 7,000–10,000, but in reality it was sold for £ 3,810.
Another provocative sculpture, Bring Me the Head of… (1995), in resin and wig, edition of 15, was sold by Christie’s in 2022 for £ 6,048, in line with the estimate.
Market analysis of Jake and Dinos Chapman
The high segment of the Chapman market is dominated by their sculptures in plastic or resin materials: these works can reach very high figures, but can also fluctuate greatly depending on the edition, the year, and the historical relevance.
The stampe, on the other hand, are handled in more modest auctions: this makes them more accessible for collectors, but also indicates a relatively stable but less explosive demand.
Some “shock” works, typical of the Chapman, maintain their value because they are an integral part of their artistic identity (provocation, brutality, eroticism, historical critique).
Implications and future prospects
The fact that a “Skull Wall Panel” has decisively exceeded the estimate at auction suggests a growing interest in more monumental or complex pieces.
There might be room for a further revaluation of sculptural works, especially the historical ones (1990s) or in limited edition.
From the collector’s perspective, prints continue to be a more accessible entry point into the Chapmans’ work, but more experienced collectors might aim for sculptures as a medium to long-term investment.
Analysis of auction sales in the last 5 years
1. Range of realized prices
- According to MutualArt, the works of Jake & Dinos Chapman sold at auction range from 38 USD to 664,386 USD, depending on the medium, size, and importance.
- The record reported is 664,386 USD for the sculpture Great Deeds Against the Dead, sold by Christie’s.
- According to the Russell Collection, the maximum price for fiberglass sculptures is about £ 422,500.
2. Examples of recent sales (last years)
Some of the most recent sales (“sold”) show the variety of the results:
- Hell Souvenir (2022) – sold by Tate Ward for £ 312, estimate £ 200-400.
- Three Faced Cunt, 1995 (fiberglass) – sold in 2022 for $ 16,250 according to Heritage
- Forehead, 1996 (fiberglass, resin, paint) – sold in 2023 for $ 3,125.
- Skull Wall Panel, circa 2003 (fiberglass / resin / glass), from Sotheby’s: estimate £ 12,000–18,000.
- Chess Set, 2003, limited edition (bronze / wigs / glass): in a sale by Invaluable estimated at €20,000-30,000.
3. Market trend
- The sculture continue to record the highest values, especially the historical or iconic ones (such as fiberglass mannequins, sets of sculture, unique works).
- The serigrafie, incisioni ed etching are more accessible: many recent sales are in the very low range (hundreds of pounds) when it comes to smaller works on paper.
- There is a wide variability: some provocative but “small” works can have very low values, while complex sculptures or “historic” pieces reach high figures.
- According to the Russell Collection, the sculptures can range from £ 50,000 to £ 400,000, depending on the work.
Upcoming (or recent) auctions on Artsy
From the Artsy profile of Jake & Dinos Chapman:
- An exhibition of Chapman works was highlighted at Sworder, with a modern & contemporary auction scheduled for April 9, 2024.
- On Artsy there are works currently for sale, such as Death II (2004) estimated at €300,000–€350,000.
- Another work on Artsy: Solar Anus (1997) mixed media, with an indicative price of €50,000–€75,000.
Criticism and perspectives
The Chapman market appears diversified: it is not dominated only by monumental pieces, but also by more modest prints, which allows for a wide range of collectors.
The fact that some recent works (like the “Hell Souvenir”) sell for very low figures highlights that the secondary market is not “bull” across the board: not all Chapman works rapidly increase in value.
There could be potential for a revaluation of the most important sculptural pieces if the interest in the provocative and historical art of the Chapmans continues.
For those who want to invest, the historical sculptures (1990s – 2000) seem to be the most solid segment; those who want to enter with more limited budgets could look at lithographs, etching, and works on paper.
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