Michael Ayrton Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Michael Ayrton Art Value Price Guide

Apr. 18, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) India Ink & Graphite on Wove Paper, 1970, 'Study for Discovery for Nautilus' H 15.5" W 19"
Est: $500 - $900
Depicting that artist's rendering of the bronze sculpture, "Study for Discovery for Nautilus." Artist's signature and date to the lower right. Frame measures H 23", W 26". Provenance: Property from a Southfield, MI private collector. Dimensions: 1 PC x H 15.50" W 19" Frame Size: H 23" W 26"
DuMouchelles
Apr. 18, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Bronze 'Study for Discovery for Nautilus' H 18" W 26" Depth 18"
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
Signed and numbered 1/9 at the lower edge. Bronze, acrylic and nautilus shell. Includes a black acrylic display base, H 18", W 26", D 18". Provenance: Property from a Southfield, MI private collector. Dimensions: 1 PC x H 18" W 26" Depth 18"
DuMouchelles
Apr. 15, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) St Anthony, No. XI, The Woman
Est: £1,500 - £2,000
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) St Anthony, No. XI, The Woman signed, titled, twice dated and numbered 'St Anthony No XI/michael ayrton. 1942. The Woman. Nov 42.' (lower right) watercolour, gouache and pen and ink on paper 43 x 23.5cm (16 7/8 x 9 1/4in).
Bonhams
Apr. 15, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Shore II
Est: £2,500 - £2,800
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Shore II signed and dated 'michael ayrton 59' (lower right) oil on board 47 x 58cm (18 1/2 x 22 13/16in).
Bonhams
Apr. 15, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Windy Day
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Windy Day signed, titled, dated and inscribed 'windy day./michael ayrton/Wooded Hill nr Bridge. Kent. 16.7.1945' (lower right) pen and ink, ink, pencil and wash on paper 25.75 x 35.5cm (10 1/8 x 13 15/16in).
Bonhams
Apr. 15, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Self-Portrait
Est: £800 - £1,200
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Self-Portrait pencil on paper 24.75 x 35cm (9 3/4 x 13 3/4in).
Bonhams
Apr. 15, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Bust of Hector Berlioz 49cm (18in) high including base; 39cm (15 3/8in) high excluding base (Conceived circa 1969)
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Bust of Hector Berlioz bronze with a black patina 49cm (18in) high including base; 39cm (15 3/8in) high excluding base Conceived circa 1969
Bonhams
Apr. 15, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Invador 38.5cm (15in) high including base; 34cm (13 3/8in) high excluding base Conceived in 1972
Est: £4,000 - £6,000
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Invador signed with initials 'MA' and numbered '0/12' (to foot) bronze with a dark brown patina 38.5cm (15in) high including base; 34cm (13 3/8in) high excluding base Conceived in 1972
Bonhams
Apr. 15, 2025
▲ Michael Ayrton (1921-1975)
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
▲ Michael Ayrton (1921-1975) 'Portrait of Wyndham Lewis' signed 'Michael Ayrton', inscribed with title and dated '55/Jan: 16th' u.r., black chalk, with a second portrait in pen and ink and wash verso 51 x 62.5cm, unframed Provenance: Sotheby's, 'Modern British and Irish Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture', 12 October 1988, lot 294; the property of a private collector. Condition Report: Pinholes with tiny tears to the extreme corners. The sheet has been hinged to a mount with two pieces of tape applied to the reverse of the top edge. A little light smudging. There is a very faint border of discolouration to the edges.
Sworders
Apr. 10, 2025
AYRTON (Michael)
Est: £150 - £200
AYRTON (Michael) Three Plays by Euripedes, Medea. Hippolytus, The Bacchae, translated by Philip Vellacott, Limited Editions Club 1967, folio, this copy unnumbered and marked 'm.a.' [perhaps Michael Ayrton's copy?], illustrated and signed by Michael Ayrton and others, slip case; AESCHYLUS. The Oresteia, Heritage Press 1961, slip case; Biography by Justine Hopkins, signed; The Midas Consequence, 1st edition 1974; Fabrications, 1972; Folio Society Macbeth 1951; The Maze Maker 1967; Clausentum 1946; The Testament of Daedalus 1962; Maze and Minotaur, exhibition catalogue 1973, with 5 others - Ayrton (15)
Cheffins
Mar. 27, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921–1975) Pig; Original study for Lord of the Flies
Est: $800 - $1,200
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921–1975) Pig; Original study for Lord of the Flies Gouache on Paper unsigned 10 x 10 3/4 in. (25.4 x 27.3 cm) This lot is located in Philadelphia.
Freeman’s | Hindman
Mar. 13, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Bronze Sculpture, 'Minotaur' H 5.5" W 6.8" Depth 4"
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
Depicting a minotaur kneeling with arms raised in a bowing posture. Editioned 7/9 near the base. Presented on a wood pedestal, measuring H 10.75" x W 4" x D 4" overall. Provenance: Property from a Southfield, MI private collector. Dimensions: 1 PC x H 5.50" W 6.75" Depth 4"
DuMouchelles
Mar. 13, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Bronze Sculpture, 'Minotaur in Jeopardy' H 10" W 6.5" Depth 5"
Est: $5,000 - $8,000
The minotaur with hands clasped above his neck in seated posture. Editioned 7/9 alongside the base. Presented on an ebonized wood pedestal base, measuring H 11" x W 8" x D 6" overall. Provenance: Property from a Southfield, MI private collector. Dimensions: 1 PC x H 10" W 6.50" Depth 5"
DuMouchelles
Mar. 13, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Bronze And Plexiglass Sculpture, 'Cage Contingency' H 68.3" W 16" Depth 12"
Est: $5,000 - $8,000
Depicting a Cubist form trapped within orange plexiglass and copper sheet walls in a bronze frame. Provenance: Property from a Southfield, MI private collector. Dimensions: 1 PC x H 68.25" W 16" Depth 12"
DuMouchelles
Mar. 12, 2025
λ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH 1921-1975), FIGURE
Est: £1,500 - £2,500
λ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH 1921-1975)FIGURECharcoal, ink and washSigned and dated 51 (lower right)57.5 x 38.5cm (22½ x 15 in.)Provenance:The Redfern Gallery, LondonPrivate Collection, Nigel Balchin (acquired from the above 29 May 1951) and by descent Sale, Sotheby's, London, 12 July 2013, lot 132Sale, Bonhams, London 10 July 2018, lot 83Osborne Samuel, LondonPrivate Collection, Andrew BurtExhibited:London, The Redfern Gallery, 1951, no. 37Birmingham, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Michael Ayrton Retrospective, 1977The present work is a study for the finished oil Figure in a Yellow Room, 1951, depicting Mme Natalie Grandjean (Private Collection, UK). See Peter Cannon-Brookes, Michael Ayrton, p. 41, pl. 66
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
Mar. 12, 2025
λ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH 1921-1975), CHALK PITS
Est: £800 - £1,200
λ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH 1921-1975)CHALK PITSInk, wash and gouacheSigned and dated March 15 '45 (lower left)37 x 55cm (14½ x 21½ in.)Provenance:Roland, Browse and Delbanco, LondonThe Piccadilly Gallery, LondonSale, Sotheby's, London, 7 June 2007, lot 114Private Collection, Andrew BurtNote for online:This evocative work is thought to originate from a period when Ayrton was in contact with Paul Nash and Graham Sutherland, visiting the latter in Pembrokeshire in the Summer of 1945. It is also clearly related to the background of 'Winter Stream', a key painting of the same year, held at Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum:
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
Mar. 12, 2025
λ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH 1921-1975), FROM DELPHI TOWARDS ITEA
Est: £700 - £1,000
λ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH 1921-1975)FROM DELPHI TOWARDS ITEAInk, wash and gouache Signed and titled (lower right)34.5 x 49.5cm (13½ x 19¼ in.)Executed in 1958.Provenance:Private Collection, Andrew BurtExhibited:Colorado, Colorado Springs Fine Art Centre, 1965Birmingham, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Michael Ayrton Retrospective, 1977Literature:Peter Cannon-Brookes, Michael Ayrton, Oxford, 1978, p. 68, pl. 120
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
Mar. 12, 2025
λ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH 1921-1975), MAZE HEAD
Est: £800 - £1,200
λ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH 1921-1975)MAZE HEADWhite chalkSigned (lower left) and dated 24.4.65 (lower right)45.5 x 58cm (17¾ x 22¾ in.)Provenance:Private Collection, Jorge & Mayotte Lewinski (a gift from the artist)Sale, Bloomsbury Auctions, London, 21 June 2012, lot 16Private Collection, Andrew BurtExhibited:Birmingham, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Michael Ayrton Retrospective, 1977Literature:Peter Cannon-Brookes, Michael Ayrton, Birmingham, 1978, p. 125, pl. 225
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
Mar. 12, 2025
Ayrton (Michael, 1921-1975). Acropolis at Cumae, lithograph
Est: £200 - £300
Ayrton (Michael, 1921-1975). Acropolis at Cumae, lithograph AR * Ayrton (Michael, 1921-1975). Acropolis at Cumae, lithograph, signed and limited 16/50 in pencil to lower margin, sheet size 480 x 550 mm (19 x 21 3/4 ins), masking tape to verso of sheet edges, card mount (54 x 59.5 cm) QTY: (1)
Dominic Winter Auctions
Feb. 27, 2025
§ Michael Ayrton (1921-1975)
Est: £150 - £300
§ Michael Ayrton (1921-1975) The Duchess of Malfi; an illustration for Act II, Scene (i or v), 1945 signed beneath the mount pen and ink 18.5 x 11cm Provenance: With Abbott & Holder, London
Cheffins
Feb. 27, 2025
§ Michael Ayrton (1921-1975)
Est: £500 - £800
§ Michael Ayrton (1921-1975) Nocturne signed and dated 'michael ayrton 40' (upper right) pen, ink and gouache 36 x 23cm Provenance: The Collection of Christopher Hogwood CBE Sale; Cheffins, 30 April, 2015, lot 412 Exhibited: London, Michael Parkin Gallery, John Minton and Friends, 1997, cat. no.43
Cheffins
Feb. 25, 2025
MICHAEL AYRTON (1921-1975) Portrait of Sir Peter Ustinov Inscribed and dated ÔPeter, August 27- 66Õ Pencil, 31.5 x 22cm
Est: €400 - €600
MICHAEL AYRTON (1921-1975) Portrait of Sir Peter Ustinov Inscribed and dated ÔPeter, August 27- 66Õ Pencil, 31.5 x 22cm
Adam's
Feb. 06, 2025
Michael Ayrton (English, 1921-1975), Figure Studies
Est: £200 - £300
Michael Ayrton (English, 1921-1975) Figure Studies for The Dance 1957 Pencil on paper, double-sided Dated '26.10.57' lower right With studio stamp Dimensions: (Frame) 17.5 in. (H) x 14 in. (W)
Sloane Street Auctions
Feb. 04, 2025
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921–1975) Reflex I, 1965
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921–1975) Reflex I, 1965 bronze and perspex inscribed Ayrton and numbered 2/9 15 1/2 x 26 x 11 inches. This lot is located in Chicago.
Freeman’s | Hindman
Dec. 10, 2024
MICHAEL AYRTON (1921-1975). Restless Minotaur. bronze with a brown patina 1
Est: £12,000 - £18,000
MICHAEL AYRTON (1921-1975). Restless Minotaur. bronze with a brown patina 11 in. (28 cm.) high.
Christie's
Nov. 27, 2024
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Figure with a Skein 88cm (34 5/8in) high (Conceived in 1972)
Est: £6,000 - £8,000
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Figure with a Skein signed and numbered 'Michael Ayrton 5/9' (to base) bronze with a blue green patina and thread 88cm (34 5/8in) high Conceived in 1972
Bonhams
Nov. 27, 2024
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) End Maze III 59cm (23 1/4in) high including base; 39.5cm (15 9/16in) high excluding base (Conceived in 1970)
Est: £4,000 - £6,000
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) End Maze III bronze with a black and gold patina 59cm (23 1/4in) high including base; 39.5cm (15 9/16in) high excluding base Conceived in 1970
Bonhams
Nov. 27, 2024
Michael Ayrton, Oracle - Responding Head I, 1963
Est: £800 - £1,200
Michael Ayrton, British 1921-1975 - Oracle - Responding Head I, 1963; ink on paper, signed and dated lower left 'Michael Ayrton 4.8.63', 37 x 47.5 cm (ARR) Provenance: Grosvenor Gallery, London, cat. no.77 (label attached to the reverse of the frame); Winston Graham (1908-2003), the writer of the beloved Poldark novels and thence by descent; private collection, purchased from the above Literature: Peter Cannon-Brooks, 'Michael Ayrton: An Illustrated Commentary', Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, 1978, no. 183 illus.p.102 Exhibited: City Museums and Art Gallery, Birmingham, 'The Compulsive Image: Sculpture and Paintings by Michael Ayrton', 15th January-27th February 1977, cat. no.186
Roseberys
Nov. 26, 2024
Michael Ayrton, Figures in a red room, 1955
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
Michael Ayrton, British 1921-1975 - Figures in a red room, 1955; oil on canvas, signed and dated upper left 'Michael Ayrton 55 Jul-Aug', 84.4 x 113.4 cm (ARR) Provenance: Pyms Gallery, London, G725 (label attached to the reverse)
Roseberys
Nov. 26, 2024
Â§ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH, 1921-1975)
Est: £600 - £800
Â§ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH, 1921-1975) MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH, 1921-1975) Icarus, Head signed, titled and dated 'michael ayrton 60/Icarus Head' (lower right) pen & ink 41 x 28 cm. (16 1/8 x 11 in.) Provenance With Compton Cassey Gallery, Cheltenham, where purchased by the family of the present owners
Chiswick Auctions
Nov. 26, 2024
Â§ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH, 1921-1975)
Est: £800 - £1,200
Â§ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH, 1921-1975) MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH, 1921-1975) Phaistos signed and titled 'Phaistos Michael Ayrton' (lower right) pen & ink 33 x 46.5 cm. (13 x 18 1/4 in.) Provenance Sale; Bonhams, London, 12 March 2002, lot 88, where purchased by the family of the present owners
Chiswick Auctions
Nov. 20, 2024
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Crouched Minotaur 78.7 cm. (31 in.) wide (Conceived in 1963, this cast is number 1 from the edition of 6)
Est: £20,000 - £30,000
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Crouched Minotaur bronze with a green/black patina 78.7 cm. (31 in.) wide Conceived in 1963, this cast is number 1 from the edition of 6
Bonhams
Nov. 20, 2024
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Crouched Figure 80 cm. (31 1/2 in.) high (Conceived in 1959, this cast is number 1 from the edition of 6)
Est: £15,000 - £20,000
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Crouched Figure bronze with a brown patina 80 cm. (31 1/2 in.) high Conceived in 1959, this cast is number 1 from the edition of 6
Bonhams
Nov. 19, 2024
MICHAEL AYRTON (1921-1975). Figures in snow. oil on canvas 20 x 24 in. (50.
Est: £3,000 - £5,000
MICHAEL AYRTON (1921-1975). Figures in snow. oil on canvas 20 x 24 in. (50.8 x 61 cm.).
Christie's
Oct. 25, 2024
§ Michael Ayrton (1921-1975)
Est: £150 - £250
§ Michael Ayrton (1921-1975) Poems of Death; from New Excursions Into English Poetry, nine unframed lithographic bookplates, published by Frederick Muller, 1945, each 20.5 x 13.5cm; together with William Scott CBE, RA (1913-1989), Soldiers' Verse; from New Excursions Into English Poetry, six unframed lithographic bookplates, published by Frederick Muller, 1945, each 21 x 13.5cm (15)
Cheffins
Oct. 17, 2024
§ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH 1921–1975)
Est: £200 - £300
MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH 1921–1975) Untitled (Not To Disturb) 1971 signed and numbered 4/28 in pencil etching on wove from Muriel Spark's Not To Disturb published by Observer Books plate 17.5 x 12.8cm framed ARR
Chiswick Auctions
Oct. 14, 2024
MICHAEL AYRTON (1921-1975) Portrait of Peter Usinov Inscribed and dated ‘Peter, August 27- 66’ Pencil, 31.5 x 22cm
Est: €800 - €1,200
MICHAEL AYRTON (1921-1975) Portrait of Peter Usinov Inscribed and dated ‘Peter, August 27- 66’ Pencil, 31.5 x 22cm
Adam's
Oct. 10, 2024
Michael Ayrton (1921-1975), BARLEY FLIGHT, 1966
Est: $1,000 - $2,000
Michael Ayrton (1921-1975), British BARLEY FLIGHT, 1966 signed and dated "'66" upper left; titled and dated "Feb '66" verso Estimate: $1,000—2,000 CAD
Waddington's
Oct. 02, 2024
▲ Michael Ayrton (1921-1975)
Est: £400 - £600
▲ Michael Ayrton (1921-1975) 'The Sleeper in Flight' signed and dated 'Michael Ayrton July 21st 1941' l.l., pen and ink heightened with white 22 x 30.5cm Condition Report: Framed: 43 x 51.5cm Time staining with a faint border of discolouration to the extreme edges. Not viewed out of glazed frame.
Sworders
Sep. 26, 2024
Michael Ayrton (1921 - 1975), Boys Fishing, lithograph, 6/25, signed in pencil, 68cm x 43cm
Est: £60 - £80
Michael Ayrton (1921 - 1975), Boys Fishing, lithograph, 6/25, signed in pencil, 68cm x 43cm
Bamfords Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd
Sep. 11, 2024
Michael Ayrton, Street Corner, 1949-50;
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
Michael Ayrton, British 1921-1975 - Street Corner, 1949-50; oil on panel, signed lower right 'Michael Ayrton', 36 x 45 cm (ARR) Provenance: The Redfern Gallery, London (label attached to the reverse of the frame); Col. A. S. Richardson, purchased from the above on the 20th June 1951 and thence by descent Note: Ayrton exhibited with Redfern in the late 1940s and a painting of a similar subject 'Encounter No 1, 1947' originally with the gallery, depicting two figures in an alleyway, one wearing a cloak, is now in the Jerwood Collection. In the late 1940s Ayrton had visited Italy, where he was inspired by the artists of the quattrocento such as Masaccio and Piero della Francesca. The impact of their work can be seen in the highly tonal use of colour and careful drawing and modelling of the figures.
Roseberys
Sep. 11, 2024
Michael Ayrton, Icarus Transformed, 1961;
Est: £800 - £1,200
Michael Ayrton, British 1921-1975 - Icarus Transformed, 1961; ink on paper, signed, dated and titled lower left 'Michael Ayrton 1961 Icarus Transformed' and inscribed in pencil lower right 'reproduced in Testament of Daedalus', 22.2 x 28 cm (ARR) Provenance: Hamet Gallery, London (label attached to the reverse of the frame); The Estate of Jill and Michael Barrington, purchased from the above on the 5th March 1969 Note: 'The Testament of Daedelus' was published in 1962 and shows Ayrton's continued interest in Greek myth and in particular the Cretan stories of King Minos and the Minotaur and Daedelus and his tragic son Icarus.
Roseberys
Sep. 10, 2024
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975), Portrait of the composer and conductor Constant Lambert, pencil on paper, 18 x 11cm
Est: £500 - £800
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Portrait of the composer and conductor Constant Lambert pencil on paper inscribed and dated 1946
Gorringes
Sep. 04, 2024
Michael Ayrton, Fishes, 1952;
Est: £200 - £300
Michael Ayrton, British 1921-1975, Fishes, 1952; hand-finished monoprint in colours on paper, signed, dated and inscribed A/P in black pen, sheet: 33 x 42.5cm, (unframed) (ARR)
Roseberys
Aug. 13, 2024
▲ Michael Ayrton (1921-1975)
Est: £100 - £150
▲ Michael Ayrton (1921-1975) 'Balanide I', 1972 etching, printer's proof, inscribed 'p.p' in pencil l.l., with artist's studio stamp verso, one of fifteen etchings illustrating 'Femmes/Hombres' by Paul Verlaine, published by Douglas Cleverdon sheet 29.5 x 39cm, unframed Condition Report: A faint crease mark to the upper right edge. Appears to be in otherwise good condition.
Sworders
Aug. 13, 2024
§ MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH 1921-1975)
Est: £3,000 - £5,000
MICHAEL AYRTON (BRITISH 1921-1975) LANDSCAPE WITH GOATS, CUMAE, SOUTHERN ITALY - 1956 Signed and dated lower right, oil on canvas 50cm x 59cm (19.75in x 23.25in) Vincent Kosman Fine Art, Edinburgh;Private Collection, U.K.
Lyon & Turnbull
Jul. 25, 2024
† Michael Ayrton (1921-1975), Cassandra Version IVm Agamemnon pt. II, signed and dated 'Michael Ayrton, 6.10.59', ink on paper laid to board with white gouache, 33 cm x 23 cm, framed and glazed, 56 cm x 35 cm. Preparatory sketch for Michael...
Est: £400 - £600
† Michael Ayrton (1921-1975), Cassandra Version IVm Agamemnon pt. II, signed and dated 'Michael Ayrton, 6.10.59', ink on paper laid to board with white gouache, 33 cm x 23 cm, framed and glazed, 56 cm x 35 cm. Preparatory sketch for Michael Ayrton's illustrated version of The Oresteia which was published in 1961. Private collection, deceased estate
Dawsons Auctioneers
Jul. 18, 2024
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Smoke Mirror Circle (Drawing II), 1972
Est: $800 - $1,200
Michael Ayrton (British, 1921-1975) Smoke Mirror Circle (Drawing II), 1972 ink wash and graphite signed Michael Ayrton, titled and dated (lower right) 20 x 13 1/2 inches.
Freeman’s | Hindman