Frederick Buck Auction Prices and Value Guide
Frederick Buck auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 214 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
Frederick Buck auction prices: quick answer
Frederick Buck auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- Frederick Buck
- Source records
- 214
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
Artist context
About Frederick Buck
Frederick Buck (1771–c. 1840) was an Irish miniature portrait painter who spent most of his career in his native Cork. Active during the late Georgian and early Romantic periods, Buck produced portrait miniatures that were widely sought after by the Anglo-Irish landed class and by military officers posted in Ireland. He is recognized as one of the foremost practitioners of the miniature tradition in Ireland, a genre that enjoyed particular popularity in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Buck was the brother of Adam Buck (1759–1834), another noted portrait miniaturist. In addition to his portrait work, Frederick Buck is recorded as having produced ex-libris designs. His miniatures are held in institutional and private collections and appear regularly at auction.
Georgian-era miniature painting traditionwatercolor on ivory (portrait miniatures)portraitsmilitary officers
Common works and media
Buck's most commonly encountered works are portrait miniatures, typically executed in watercolor on ivory and measuring a few inches in height. Subjects are predominantly bust-length or half-length portraits of gentry, military officers, and fashionable sitters of the era. He is also known to have produced ex-libris (bookplates). Works are usually found in oval or rectangular miniature frames, sometimes with glazed reverse compartments containing hairwork.
Market and appraisal context
Frederick Buck's portrait miniatures appear regularly at auction, reflecting a sustained collector market for Georgian-era Irish miniatures. Valuation depends on condition of the ivory support and paint layer, quality and detail of the rendering, the identity of the sitter, provenance, and whether the piece retains its original frame or casing. Works attributed to Frederick should be distinguished from those of his brother Adam Buck, as both worked in similar media and periods. Collectors and appraisers should verify attribution carefully, ideally through comparison with documented examples in museum collections.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Value drivers
- Condition of the ivory support and paint layer is a primary factor, as miniatures are fragile and susceptible to cracking and fading
- Attribution and authentication depend on comparison with documented works, as the Buck family produced multiple artists
- Sitter identity and provenance can significantly affect value
- Period framing and original casing may add to collectibility
Appraisal caveats
- Frederick Buck should not be confused with his brother Adam Buck, who was also a portrait painter and miniaturist working in the same period.
- Exact death date is uncertain; sources place it around 1839–1840.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History library authority
- VIAF (OCLC) library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- Wikipedia wikipedia
- Wikidata library authority
- Library of Congress 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.
Artist value FAQ
How much is Frederick Buck 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 Frederick Buck artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.