Lawson Wood Auction Prices and Value Guide

Lawson Wood auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 465 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Lawson Wood auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
Lawson Wood
Source records
465
Market update
2026-02-16

Artist context

About Lawson Wood

Clarence Lawson Wood (1878–1957) was an English painter, illustrator, and designer celebrated for his humorous and animal-themed artwork. Born in Highgate, London, he trained at the Slade School of Fine Art, Heatherley's School of Fine Art, and Frank Calderon's School of Animal Painting. After working on the staff of publisher C. Arthur Pearson from 1896 to 1902, Wood established a prolific freelance career. His illustrations appeared in leading periodicals including Punch, The Strand Magazine, The Graphic, The Illustrated London News, and Boys Own Paper. Wood is best known for his character Gran'pop, a mischievous ginger ape that starred in its own series of annuals from 1936 to 1950 and was syndicated in magazines such as Collier's. His work spans humorous illustration, caricature, animal painting, and postcard art, making him one of the most recognizable British illustrators of the early-to-mid twentieth century.

British humorous illustrationwatercoloroil paintingink drawingpostcard illustrationcaricaturehumorous animalsanthropomorphic primates

Common works and media

Wood's output includes original watercolor paintings, ink and wash illustrations, oil paintings, magazine cover art, interior story illustrations, postcard designs (particularly humorous and wartime series), book illustrations, and the annual Gran'pop volumes published between 1936 and 1950. Caricature, anthropomorphic animals—especially primates—and domestic humor are recurring subjects across all media. Collectors most frequently encounter his original drawings and published postcards at auction.

Market and appraisal context

Lawson Wood's auction market is active and broadly distributed: 261 total lots recorded between December 2000 and January 2026, with 119 carrying realized prices. Price dispersion is wide—ranging from £5 at the low end (postcards, cigarette cards, small prints) to £5,534 at the high—reflecting the breadth of his output from ephemera to original watercolours. The median price sits at approximately £600, with the interquartile range spanning roughly £360–£956. Original watercolours, especially his signature anthropomorphic primate golfing and sporting scenes, consistently achieve the upper band: £450–£750 at UK regional houses such as Gorringes and Michael J Bowman. Printed multiples—postcards, cigarette cards, circus advertising signs, and coloured prints—trade between £30 and £150, often at specialist ephemera or book auction houses. Major houses including Christie's, Bonhams, and Heritage Auctions appear in the top-ten house list, confirming institutional recognition. Liquidity is moderate: 6 lots in the most recent 12 months and 9 in the prior 12 months indicate steady but not high-frequency turnover, consistent with a collected but specialised illustrators' market.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • watercolour
  • ink drawing
  • oil painting
  • print (coloured and monochrome)
  • postcard illustration

Value drivers

  1. Medium: original watercolors, oil paintings, and ink drawings command higher values than printed postcards or reproductions.
  2. Subject: Gran'pop and other anthropomorphic animal illustrations are Wood's most recognizable and sought-after works.
  3. Provenance: works with documented exhibition or publication history (e.g., Punch, The Strand Magazine, Collier's) may carry added interest.
  4. Period: early 20th-century magazine illustrations and wartime postcard series represent distinct collecting segments.
  5. Edition and condition: postcard and print multiples should be evaluated for edition, condition, and completeness of sets.
  6. Medium: original watercolours and gouache paintings command the highest prices (£360–£750 median band); prints, postcards, and ephemera typically realise £30–£150.

Appraisal caveats

  • No specific auction price records were available in the source pack; market values should be assessed against comparable illustration-art sales at major auction houses.
  • Printed postcards and reproductions are abundant and generally lower in value than original artwork; authentication is an important factor.
  • Wood's large output across magazines, postcards, annuals, and paintings means condition and attribution should be verified for each lot.
  • Price distribution spans £5 to £5,534 across 119 priced lots; the median (£600) should not be applied to prints or ephemera, which cluster well below the 25th percentile.

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 Lawson Wood

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Lawson Wood 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 Lawson Wood artwork?

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