Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe Auction Prices and Value Guide
Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 763 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe auction prices: quick answer
Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe
- Source records
- 763
- Market update
- 2026-02-16
Artist context
About Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe
Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe (1901–1979) was an English painter, wood engraver, and illustrator celebrated as one of the foremost naturalistic wildlife artists of the twentieth century. Appointed OBE and elected a Royal Academician, Tunnicliffe devoted his career to depicting British birds and rural wildlife with meticulous observational accuracy. He spent most of his working life on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, where the surrounding landscape and coastal habitats directly informed his art. He is widely recognised for his illustrations for Henry Williamson's novel Tarka the Otter, alongside extensive work for Ladybird Books, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and numerous private press editions. His oeuvre spans oil paintings, watercolours, wood engravings, and etchings, held in public collections including the Tate and the Royal Academy. Tunnicliffe's work bridges fine art and natural history illustration, making him a significant figure in both fields.
Naturalistic wildlife artOil paintingWood engravingWatercolourIllustration (book and print)British birdsWildlifeRural and countryside scenes
Common works and media
Common works encountered at auction and in appraisal contexts include wood engravings and etchings of British birds, watercolour and gouache wildlife studies, oil paintings of game birds and rural scenes, book illustrations (notably Tarka the Otter and Ladybird nature titles), and commercial prints and greeting-card art. Wood engravings are the most frequently traded medium, often issued as signed limited editions. Watercolour studies of shorebirds and farmland wildlife are also widely collected.
Market and appraisal context
Tunnicliffe's works appear regularly at auction, most frequently as wood engravings, etchings, and watercolours of British bird and wildlife subjects. Original oil paintings are less common and tend to attract stronger bids. Valuation depends heavily on medium, with signed limited-edition prints and original plates commanding premiums over commercially reproduced book illustrations. Provenance linking a work to his Anglesey studio period, condition of the print or painting surface, and the rarity of the subject composition are key factors. Collectors should distinguish between original graphic works and the many reproduction prints and greeting-card designs issued during his lifetime and posthumously.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- Tunnicliffe produced a large volume of published illustration work and editioned prints; not all works bearing his name are rare or high-value originals.
- Attribution should account for the range of media he used; book reproductions, commercial greeting-card art, and posthumous restrikes exist alongside original paintings and plates.
- The source pack did not include specific auction-realised-price records; appraisal should reference current comparable lots for up-to-date market positioning.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Wikidata library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- VIAF library authority
- Library of Congress library authority
- RKD library authority
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 Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe
Artist value FAQ
How much is Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe 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 Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.