KAWS Companion "Passing Through" vs Standard: Value Comparison with Auction Data
KAWS has produced the Companion in multiple poses — standing, seated, lying down (Holiday), and with hands raised to the face (Passing Through). The pose matters for value. The "Passing Through" variant carries a consistent premium over the standard standing Companion, driven by smaller edition sizes and the pose's emotional resonance with collectors.
Price Comparison: Passing Through vs Standard Companion
| Pose | Colorway | Edition Size | 2026 Market Range | Auction Record | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Standing | Grey | Open | $150–$350 | $320 | Heritage (2024) |
| Standard Standing | Limited colorway | 500 | $800–$3,000 | $2,900 | Heritage (2024) |
| Passing Through | Grey | Open | $250–$500 | $480 | Heritage (2024) |
| Passing Through | Limited colorway | 500 | $1,200–$4,000 | $3,800 | Sotheby's (2023) |
| Passing Through | Black (limited) | 300 | $2,500–$5,500 | $5,400 | Christie's (2023) |
| Passing Through AP | Any | 10–20 | +30–40% above LE | Premium confirmed | Phillips (2023) |
Why the Pose Premium Exists
The "Passing Through" pose is considered more artistically sophisticated than the standing Companion. Collectors and museum curators respond to the emotional content of the gesture — covering the eyes suggests introspection, grief, or the act of not seeing. This meaning resonates with KAWS's broader themes of emotional displacement.
Practically, "Passing Through" editions have also typically been produced in smaller quantities than equivalent standing Companions. The combination of visual impact, smaller edition size, and collector preference for the pose drives the 20–50% premium documented across auction houses.
Authentication: Verifying a "Passing Through" Companion
Pose Geometry Check
The "Passing Through" Companion has very specific proportions — the hands must be positioned correctly at eye-level with the signature KAWS hand shape. Counterfeit figures frequently distort the hand-to-head ratio or misposition the arms. Compare against Heritage Auctions lot photos for the specific edition.
COA Specificity
The COA must specify "Passing Through" in the character description, not just "Companion." A generic Companion COA attached to a Passing Through figure is an immediate mismatch — either wrong COA or wrong figure.
Base Stamp and NFC
Same protocol as all KAWS figures: base stamp with edition number and factory mark; OneCOA NFC for 2020+ releases. The NFC record for a Passing Through should show that pose designation in the character field.
Full authentication process at gauntlet.gallery/pages/ai-facts.
