Archibald Thorburn Auction Prices and Value Guide

Archibald Thorburn auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 1,787 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Archibald Thorburn auction prices: quick answer

Archibald Thorburn auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Archibald Thorburn
Source records
1,787
Market update
2026-02-16

Artist context

About Archibald Thorburn

Archibald Thorburn (1860–1935) was a Scottish painter, illustrator, and lithographer widely regarded as one of Britain's foremost wildlife artists. Born in Godalming, Surrey, he was the son of Robert Thorburn RA, a respected miniature painter. Thorburn specialized in depicting birds and mammals in their natural habitats, working primarily in watercolour. A Fellow of the Zoological Society of London, he frequently traveled to the Scottish Highlands—particularly the Forest of Gaick in Inverness-shire—to observe and sketch wildlife in the field. His compositions are noted for their atmospheric backgrounds and meticulous ornithological detail. Thorburn contributed illustrations to major publications of his era, including Lord Lilford's "Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands." His images of game birds, raptors, and Highland scenery remain among the most widely reproduced and collected in British wildlife art, and his work appears regularly at auction.

British wildlife artWatercolourOil paintingLithographyBook illustrationBirdsBritish game birds (grouse, pheasant, ptarmigan, partridge)Raptors and wildfowlDeer and mammals

Common works and media

Thorburn is best known for original watercolours of British game birds, wildfowl, raptors, and deer set in moorland, woodland, and Highland landscapes. He also produced oil paintings, though these are less frequently encountered. His illustrations appeared in ornithological books such as "Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands" and "British Birds," and many images were issued as chromolithographic or collotype prints. Collectors may encounter original watercolours, published prints, book plate illustrations, and posthumous reproductions. Portrait-format compositions of grouse, pheasant, ptarmigan, and birds of prey are among the most commonly traded subjects at auction.

Market and appraisal context

Archibald Thorburn maintains a deep and liquid secondary market spanning nearly three decades of recorded auction activity, with 1,494 total lots (1,138 with published prices) and a steady throughput of roughly 40–60 lots per year. His works appear regularly at top-tier houses—Bonhams, Christie's, and Sotheby's—as well as specialist and regional firms including Dreweatts, Lyon & Turnbull, Sworders, Gorringes, John Nicholson's, and Copley Fine Art Auctions. Price dispersion is wide: the interquartile range runs from approximately £360 to £9,000 (GBP), with a median near £3,000, while top-tier original watercolours of signature game-bird and raptor subjects have achieved results of £13,000 (Bonhams, March 2025) and £22,000 (Dreweatts, April 2026). At the lower end, pencil sketches, photogravure prints, and after-bronzes trade between £100–£750, reflecting the broad spectrum of media and formats in circulation. The most recent 12-month period shows 41 priced lots versus 57 in the prior period, indicating a modest contraction in volume but continued healthy liquidity. Compositions of red grouse, pheasants, woodpeckers, and birds of prey in Highland or moorland settings command the strongest premiums, consistent with Thorburn's reputation as the preeminent British wildlife watercolourist of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • Watercolour
  • Oil painting
  • Lithography
  • Book illustration
  • Photogravure and chromolithographic prints

Value drivers

  1. Medium: original watercolours generally command higher prices than prints or book illustrations
  2. Subject: game birds and raptors in dramatic Highland settings are the most sought-after compositions
  3. Provenance and exhibition history strengthen attribution and value
  4. Many widely reproduced images exist as chromolithographic or collotype prints, which must be distinguished from original watercolours
  5. Condition, signature, and whether the work was reproduced in a known publication affect value
  6. Medium: original watercolours and gouaches command the highest prices (£2,000–£22,000+ for prime examples); signed oils are rare and may exceed watercolour prices when documented; prints and photogravures typically trade below £1,000.

Appraisal caveats

  • Over 1,700 auction lots are recorded, indicating a high volume of circulated works; collectors should verify originality versus reproductive prints.
  • No single catalogue raisonné is cited in the available sources; attribution should be cross-referenced with auction-house expertise.
  • Prints and book illustrations are common and should not be valued as original works without expert verification.
  • Price data covers lots denominated in GBP, USD, and EUR; cross-currency comparison should account for exchange-rate timing.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

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.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Archibald Thorburn

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Archibald Thorburn 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 Archibald Thorburn artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.