Theodore Wores Auction Prices and Value Guide

Theodore Wores auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 203 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Theodore Wores auction prices: quick answer

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

Artist
Theodore Wores
Source records
203
Market update
2026-02-16

Artist context

About Theodore Wores

Theodore Wores (1860–1939) was an American painter and illustrator born in San Francisco, California. He is recognized for his extensive international travel, which included sustained periods in Germany, Japan, Hawaii, and Samoa—destinations that deeply shaped his artistic output. Wores is particularly noted for depicting Japanese life and culture at a time when few Western artists had direct, sustained engagement with the country. His work encompasses Chinoiserie and broader Asian and Pacific Island subjects, placing him among late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century American painters who looked beyond domestic scenes for inspiration. Wores's career is documented in major reference works including Bénézit's Dictionnaire critique, Mantle Fielding's dictionary, and the Witt Checklist of painters. His paintings appear regularly at auction, reflecting a sustained collector following.

American painting, late 19th–early 20th century, with Asian and Pacific subject matteroil paintingChinoiserieJapanese scenes and cultureHawaiian and Samoan subjects

Common works and media

Wores worked primarily in oil on canvas. Common subjects include Japanese street scenes and figure studies, Hawaiian and Samoan landscapes and portraits, Chinoiserie-inspired compositions, and San Francisco Bay Area scenes. His output ranges from finished exhibition paintings to smaller travel sketches and studies. Illustration work is also documented. Works attributed to Wores that appear at auction tend to be oil paintings, though works on paper and sketches may also surface.

Market and appraisal context

Theodore Wores's works appear with notable frequency at auction, with over 200 lots recorded. The strongest valuation factors include subject matter—his Japanese, Hawaiian, and Samoan scenes stand out among American painters of his era—as well as medium, condition, provenance, and documented exhibition history. Authentication is aided by his inclusion in Bénézit, Fielding's, and other standard references. Collectors should note that no catalogue raisonné was identified; works lacking clear provenance or signature warrant additional scholarly review before attribution is confirmed.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • American Paintings
  • 19th Century Paintings

Value drivers

  1. Subject matter is a key differentiator; Wores's Japanese, Hawaiian, and Samoan scenes are distinctive among American painters of the period and may command collector interest.
  2. Attribution and provenance should be verified; Wores is documented in Bénézit, Witt Checklist, and Fielding's dictionary, which aid authentication.
  3. With over 200 recorded lots in auction databases, Wores has an established secondary-market presence.

Appraisal caveats

  • No catalogue raisonné was identified in the source pack; attribution of unsigned or undocumented works should be approached carefully.
  • Market data in this summary is limited to auction presence signals and published references; specific price trends are not assessed here.

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 Theodore Wores

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Theodore Wores 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 Theodore Wores artwork?

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