Edward Burne-Jones Auction Prices and Value Guide
Edward Burne-Jones auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 964 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Edward Burne-Jones auction prices: quick answer
Edward Burne-Jones auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Edward Burne-Jones
- Source records
- 964
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Edward Burne-Jones
Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1833–1898) was an English painter, designer, and illustrator who became one of the most celebrated figures of the second generation Pre-Raphaelite movement. Born in Birmingham, he studied at Exeter College, Oxford, where he met William Morris and developed a lifelong artistic partnership. Though never a formal member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Burne-Jones adopted and extended their ideals through richly detailed paintings drawn from mythology, Arthurian legend, and classical literature. His work helped shape the British Aesthetic and Symbolist movements and extended into stained glass, tapestry, and book illustration through his collaborations with Morris & Co. He was created a Baronet in 1894. Major holdings of his work are held by the Tate, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and museums worldwide. Collectors encounter his paintings, drawings, watercolors, stained-glass cartoons, and decorative designs at auction and in institutional collections.
Pre-RaphaeliteSymbolismArts and Craftsoil paintingwatercolorgouachepen and ink drawingmythological and Arthurian legendsclassical and literary narrativesreligion and sacred themes
Common works and media
Burne-Jones is commonly encountered in appraisal and auction contexts as oil paintings on canvas, watercolors, gouaches, pen-and-ink drawings, and pastels. His stained-glass designs and cartoons—many produced through Morris & Co.—are also widely held by institutions and occasionally appear at auction. Subject matter spans Arthurian and mythological narratives, allegorical female figures, religious scenes, and literary illustrations. Prints and reproductive engravings after his compositions circulated widely in the Victorian era and may also be encountered.
Market and appraisal context
Edward Burne-Jones maintains a liquid and well-documented secondary market spanning more than two decades of public auction records. Appraisily's auction-record index tracks 81 lots attributed to the artist, of which 58 carry realized prices. Sales date from January 2003 through February 2026, with activity at ten or more auction houses including Christie's, Sotheby's, Lyon & Turnbull, Olympia Auctions, Dreweatts, and Swann Auction Galleries. Price dispersion is wide but structurally predictable: the lower quartile sits at approximately £900 / $900, the median near £2,300, and the upper quartile around £10,000. The observed ceiling is substantially higher—£170,000 for a major Morris & Co. collaborative tapestry panel ('The Poets,' Christie's, June 2023, $163,800 USD) and £19,050 for an oil study ('Juno,' Sotheby's, December 2023). Recent-12-month lot count (6) is below the prior-12-month count (10), suggesting a mild softening in auction frequency, though this may reflect cataloguing cycles at the major houses rather than reduced collector demand. Works on paper—drawings, studies, and preparatory sketches—anchor the middle of the market (£1,000–£7,000), while autograph oil paintings, major narrative subjects, and Morris & Co. collaborative designs command the top tier.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Common auction categories
- Old Master & British Paintings
- Victorian Art
- Works on Paper (drawings, watercolors)
- Decorative Art (stained glass, tapestry designs)
- oil painting
Value drivers
- Medium and scale: large oil paintings and narrative series works generally command higher values than preparatory drawings or prints
- Provenance: documented exhibition history or inclusion in known collections significantly affects appraisal
- Attribution: works from the Morris & Co. workshop collaboration should be distinguished from solely autograph paintings
- Subject matter: Arthurian, mythological, and major narrative subjects are typically more sought after than portrait sketches
- Condition: Victorian-era works on paper and canvas are sensitive to condition issues including fading, foxing, and restoration
- Medium and format: autograph oil paintings and major narrative works sit at the top of the range; preparatory drawings and watercolors form the solid middle market; reproductive prints and giclées after Burne-Jones fall to the low end ($35–$175).
Appraisal caveats
- The source pack did not include specific realized auction prices; valuation guidance should be supplemented with comparable lot records from major auction houses.
- Burne-Jones produced designs for stained glass, tapestries, and decorative objects through Morris & Co.; distinguishing autograph fine-art works from workshop or posthumous productions is essential for appraisal.
- The Appraisily auction-record index includes lots across multiple currencies (GBP, USD, EUR, CAD); direct price comparisons require currency normalization at the sale date.
- Several recent lots in the source pack are explicitly described as giclée prints or lithographs 'after' Burne-Jones (Greenwich Auction, Premier Auction Galleries); these are reproductive works and should not be used as comparables for original paintings or drawings.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
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.
Artist value FAQ
How much is Edward Burne-Jones 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 Edward Burne-Jones artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.