William Morris Auction Prices and Value Guide
William Morris auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 266 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.
William Morris auction prices: quick answer
William Morris auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.
- Artist
- William Morris
- Source records
- 266
- Market update
- 2026-02-06
William Morris market snapshot
William Morris shows deep auction liquidity with 372 tracked lots. Median realized sale is around $3,528. Category concentration is still broad or sparse. Last 12 months recorded 47 sales. Latest recorded sale: 2026-01-15.
Realized price distribution
- Under $1,000 (18.7% · 54 sales)
- $1,000 to $10,000 (52.6% · 152 sales)
- $10,000+ (28.7% · 83 sales)
- Median sale (last 12 months)
- $2,400
- Sales recorded (last 12 months)
- 47
- Median shift vs prior year
- 0.0%
- Latest recorded sale
- 2026-01-15
Artist context
About William Morris
William Morris (1834–1896) was an English designer, poet, artist, and social reformer whose influence on British decorative arts remains foundational. A leading figure of the Arts and Crafts movement, Morris championed handcraftsmanship and the revival of traditional textile production methods during an era dominated by industrial manufacturing. In 1861, he co-founded the decorating firm Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. alongside Pre-Raphaelite artists Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. By 1875 the firm became Morris & Co. under his sole direction, producing wallpaper, textiles, tapestries, stained glass, and furniture that transformed Victorian interior design. Morris was also a celebrated poet and writer—his prose romance The Well at the World's End helped shape the modern fantasy genre—and an early advocate for architectural heritage conservation through the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, founded in 1877. Collectors encounter his work across fine and decorative arts contexts worldwide.
Arts and Crafts MovementPre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (associated)Textile design and weavingBlock-printed wallpaperTapestryStained glassBotanical and floral repeating patternsBirds and naturalistic animal motifsMedieval romance and narrative scenesArts and Crafts ornamental and interlace designs
Common works and media
Original Morris & Co. woven and printed textiles, block-printed wallpapers, hand-woven tapestries, stained glass windows and panels, painted and carved furniture, embroidered pieces, printed books and ephemera from the Kelmscott Press, illustrated manuscripts, and limited-edition publications. Common motifs include floral and botanical repeating patterns, birds and animals in naturalistic settings, medieval romance narratives, and Arts and Crafts ornamental interlace designs.
Market and appraisal context
William Morris's work appears frequently at auction across several decorative-arts categories. Original Morris & Co. textiles, wallpapers, tapestries, stained glass panels, and furniture are the most sought-after lots, with provenance, pattern rarity, condition, and confirmation of period manufacture all influencing value. Works produced during Morris's lifetime (1861–1896) under his direct supervision generally command stronger results than later Morris & Co. output. Printed books from Morris's Kelmscott Press, especially the Kelmscott Chaucer (1896), are significant in the rare-book market. Collectors should note that Morris designs have been widely reproduced, so careful attribution is essential. Appraisals benefit from documented provenance, comparable auction records, and specialist examination of materials and construction.
Auction categories and appraisal factors
Appraisal caveats
- Morris's designs have been widely reproduced and licensed over more than a century; careful attribution is essential to distinguish period pieces from later reproductions.
- Morris & Co. continued production after Morris's death in 1896, so not all Morris & Co.-branded work was designed or supervised by Morris himself.
- Embroideries by Morris's daughter May Morris are sometimes catalogued alongside his work; specialist examination may be needed to confirm the designer and maker.
Evidence
Sources for artist context
This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.
- Tate museum or university
- The Museum of Modern Art museum or university
- Wikidata library authority
- Getty Vocabulary Program library authority
- VIAF 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.
Artist value FAQ
How much is William Morris 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 William Morris artwork?
Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.