Alexander Calder’s mobiles are among the most iconic and sought-after works in the modern art market. As of March 2022, 45 sculptures by Alexander Calder are sold on average each year with an average price of $2M, 16% over estimate. These figures are derived from aggregated auction databases and seem to remain indicative as of September 2025—no blockbuster sales seem to have altered the averages this year.

[Update: Calder’s Mobile Painted Wood (1943) with Calder’s highest estimate ever heads to auction at Christie’s on November 17th 2025]
[Update: Calder’s standing mobile titled Brass Spear (1949) will be for sale at Sotheby’s in New York on September 30th 2025]
[Update: A standing mobile sculpture by Calder titled Saché to Kathé (1961) will be for sale at Christie’s in New York on May 16th 2025]
[Update: Alexander Calder’s hanging mobile titled Red Nine (1965) will be for sale at Christie’s in New York on May 15th 2025]
[Update: Calder’s mobile sculpture titled Gypsophila (1949) will be for sale at Christie’s 20th Century Evening Sale on May 12th 2025]
[Update: Alexander Calder’s mobile sculpture titled Big Horizontal Red (1956) will be for sale at Christie’s on May 12th 2025]
[Update: Calder’s hanging mobile sculpture Untitled (circa 1947) will be for sale at Christie’s in London on March 5th 2025]
[Update: Calder’s standing mobile sculpture Polychrome Six from 1973 will be for sale at Sotheby’s in Paris on December 4th 2024]
[Update: Calder’s mobile sculpture Three Discs in the Air and Red from 1961 will be for sale at Christie’s in New York on November 22nd 2024]
[Update: Calder’s hanging mobile sculpture Sumac VI from 1952 will be for sale at Christie’s in New York on November 19th 2024]
[Update: Calder’s mobile sculpture Blue Among Yellow and Red from 1963 will be for sale at Christie’s in New York on November 19th 2024]
[Update: Calder’s hanging mobile sculpture Arrows with Blue Tail from 1949 will be for sale at Sotheby’s in Paris on October 18th 2024]
[Update: Alexander Calder’s standing mobile sculpture Blue Moon from 1962 will be for sale at Sotheby’s in New York on May 15th 2024]
[Update: An untitled Calder mobile will be for sale at Sotheby’s in New York on May 16th 2023]
[Update: Calder’s mobile Black Disc with Flags will be for sale at Christie’s in New York on March 9th 2023]
[Update: Calder’s mobile Sixteen Black with a Loop will be for sale at Sotheby’s in New York on November 14th 2022]
[Update: Mobile from Calder’s famed Snow Flurry series could fetch $14.5 Million at auction on May 18th 2022 – it sold for US$15.64 Million]
[Update: Calder’s 1949 hanging mobile Untitled will be for sale at Sotheby’s Modern Evening Auction on November 16th 2021]
[Update: Calder’s mobiles Big Red Disc and Untitled will be for sale at Christie’s in London on June 30th 2021]
[Update: Calder’s mobile Submarine Christmas Tree from 1947 will be for sale at Christie’s in London on March 23rd 2021]
[Update: Calder’s standing mobile Untitled (Demi-cône) from 1972 is up for bidding at Artsy until March 11th 2021]
[Update: Calder’s mobile Mariposa from 1951 will be for sale at Sotheby’s in New York on Dec 8th 2020]
[Update: Calder’s mobile Sumac 17 from 1955 will be for sale at Sotheby’s in New York on Oct 28th 2020]
[Update: Calder’s standing mobile Triple Cross (1947) will be for sale at Hindman’s Postwar and Contemporary Art sale on Oct 1st 2020]
[Update: Calder’s mobile sculpture Une Lune Bleue will be for sale at Christie’s in London on July 10th 2020]
[Update: Calder’s mobile sculpture Occhio Giallo will be for sale at Sotheby’s in NYC on June 30th 2020]
[Update: Calder’s mobile sculpture Mobile Noir Et Rouge will be for sale at Sotheby’s in NYC on November 15th 2019]
[Update: Calder’s mobile sculpture Roxbury Front will be for sale at Sotheby’s in NYC on November 14th 2019]
[Update: Calder’s mobile sculpture Little Black will be for sale at Christie’s in NYC on November 14th 2019]
[Update: Original Calder mobile Red, Blue and White will be for sale at Christie’s in NYC on November 13th 2019]
[Update: Calder’s standing mobile Two Moons will be for sale at Phillips in London on June 27th 2019]
[Update: Alexander Calder’s hanging sculpture Fish will be for sale at Christie’s in NY on May 15th 2019]
[Update: Calder’s mobile Polychrome from One to Eight will be for sale at Christie’s in NY on May 15th 2019]
[Update: Standing mobile Glassy Insect for sale at Sotheby’s in London on March 5th 2019]
[Update: Hanging mobile Various Shapes, Colors, Planes for sale at Sotheby’s in New York on May 16th 2018]
[Update: Original Calder Mobiles for sale at Art Basel Miami Beach December 7th to 10th 2017]
[Update: 5 Original Calder Mobiles for sale (suspended and standing) at Christie’s on November 16th 2017]
[Update: Mobiles Fourteen Black Leaves and Untitled for sale at Sotheby’s in London on October 5th 2017]
[Update: One hanging and two standing Calder mobiles at Sotheby’s auction in NY on May 19th 2017]
[Update: Calder’s mobile Two Red Petals in the Air will be for sale at Phillips in NY on May 18th 2017]
[Update: Three hanging and two standing Calder mobiles at Christie’s auction in NY on May 18th 2017]
[Update: Large Calder Mobile “Black Lace” (1947) for sale at upcoming Sotheby Auction March 8th 2017]
[Update: Original Hanging Mobile by Alexander Calder Will Be for Sale at Phillips in New York on Nov 16th 2016]
[Update: Three Standing Mobiles by Alexander Calder Will Be for Sale at Christie’s in New York on Nov 16th 2016]
[Update: One Hanging and One Standing Mobile by Calder Will Be for Sale at Christie’s in New York on Nov 15th 2016]
[Update: 9 Original Calder Works Coming to Auction for the first time at Christie’s in New York on May 10th 2016]
[Update: Two standing and one hanging mobile by Calder will be for sale at Christie’s in London on Feb 11th 2016]
[Update: Seven sculptures by Calder will be for sale at Christie’s in New York on Nov 10th 2015]
[Update: Calder’s mobile Two Red Petals In The Air will be for sale at Sotheby’s in New York on Nov 4th 2015]
[Update: Calder’s mobile Little Red Face will be for sale at Christie’s in London on Oct 16th 2015]
[Update: Three original Calder mobiles for sale at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on Sept 12th 2015]
[Update: Four original Calder mobiles will be for sale at Christie’s in New York on May 13 & 14 2015]
[Update: Two original Calder mobiles will be for sale at Sotheby’s in New York on May 12 & 13 2015]
[Update: Calder’s mobile Untitled (1969) will be for sale at Sotheby’s in New York on Feb 10th 2015]
[Update: Two original Calder mobiles for sale at Sotheby’s in Paris Dec 2nd 2014]
[Update: Calder’s mobile Black Crescent sold in September 2014 at a private sale for an estimated $10.6 million]
[Update: Calder’s mobile Black Crescent will be auctioned Fall 2014]
[Update: Two original Calder mobiles for sale on May 13th 2014]
[Update: Iconic 1960 Calder mobile from a private collection on offer on November 12 2013]
[Update: Christie’s will have four Calder mobiles for sale on May 15th 2013]

Besides auctions, also check the listings at Artsy for original Calder mobiles for sale.

The market for Alexander Calder’s sculptures has demonstrated resilience and an overall upward trend in recent years, with consistent high-value auction sales, and prices often meeting or exceeding estimates, even amid broader art market pressures in 2024. Experts describe Calder’s works as “recession-proof,” bolstered by institutional demand and new exhibitions like Calder Gardens in Philadelphia. Highlights include 2023’s $3.2 million sale of Caged Stone on Yellow Stalk which was later offered again at $5.5 million in 2025. 2024 set a new record with 13 pieces over $1 million, topped by Gypsophila at $8.5 million.

If you’re looking for more affordable mobiles, consider commissioning me for a custom mobile like the following ones:

“Calder’s market is one of the most bullet-proof and recession-proof markets, on a case-by-case basis, out of any artist that exists,” says veteran art adviser Todd Levin. “And that market has proved itself over many, many decades. The fact that the supply is as large as it is, the quality of the work is so high, and the demand for the work is so high, the sell-through rate continues to be truly exceptional.”

Alexander Calder’s mobile Mariposa which sold on December 8th 2020 for US$18,188,400:

Related:
Extending nearly seven feet wide, the largest and most significant wooden Constellation mobile by Calder ever to come to auction will be offered in Christie’s 20th Century Evening Sale this November 2025.

Height: 12 inches (31 cm)
Width: 46 inches (117 cm)
Diameter (the circular space the mobile requires to rotate freely full circle): 46 inches (117 cm)

Handmade

Each of the five elements can rotate independently full circle.

The circular discs are made of transparent acrylic glass (also known as transparent plexi glass), a type of plastic that looks like glass but does not break.

The mobile creates moving colored circles on the floor, wall or ceiling when a spotlight is pointed at at it.

This mobile is almost four times as wide, and with its height of only 12 inches (31 cm) makes it ideal for standard 8 foot (2.4 meter) ceilings.

Colors: Yellow, Blue, Gray

See more of my mobiles in the art mobile section.