Thomas (1677) Forster Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Thomas (1677) Forster Art Value Price Guide

Mar. 10, 2026
Thomas Forster, English c.1677-c.1713- Portrait of a youn
Est: £400 - £600
Thomas Forster, English c.1677-c.1713- Portrait of a young child, seated; plumbago on vellum, oval, signed and dated 'T Forster / Delit / 1697' (lower right), 11 x 8.5 cm. Provenance: The family of John Byam Shaw; Thence by descent. Note: Forster was one of the last notable portrait draughtsmen to work in the tradition of black lead, or plumbago, on vellum, a tradition established in England by such artists as David Loggan (1634-1692) and John Faber (1684-1756). David Blayney Brown describes Forster's 'style, in portraits such as that of his wife, 'Sarah Jennings' [1712; V&A Museum, London], is more refined than theirs, distinguished by a greater appreciation of contour and a highly decorative approach to details such as curls of hair and wigs and folds of drapery' Forster was a prominent and prolific miniaturist who enjoyed success during his lifetime, with his sitters including Lady Anne Churchill (1683-1716), Sir Thomas Blount (1649-1697), and Lord John Somers (1651-1716). This portrait depicting a particularly young sitter is somewhat unusual for the artist, and recalls, for example, his portrait of a young boy which sold at Christie's, London, on 24 May 2000, lot 129 (£3,760).
Roseberys
Dec. 03, 2024
Thomas Forster (British, 1677-1713) Catherine Talbot, half-length, in a chemise with gown and drape
Est: £1,200 - £1,800
Thomas Forster (British, 1677-1713) Catherine Talbot, half-length, in a chemise with gown and drape. Plumbago on vellum, signed and dated on the obverse T Forster./ delin/ 1701, original stained turned-wood frame, the reverse with partial inscription Lady of / William Talbot/ Bishop of Oxford[d]/ 1699./ drawn by Foster (sic)/ 1701, turned wood frame. Oval, 110mm ( 4 5/16in) high
Bonhams
Jul. 04, 2024
Thomas Forster (British, 1677-1713) A gentleman, head and shoulders facing right, in a black gown with white linen bands, curled wig
Est: £400 - £600
Thomas Forster (British, 1677-1713) A gentleman, head and shoulders facing right, in a black gown with white linen bands, curled wig. Plumbago on vellum, signed on the obverse and dated, T Forster./delin/1704, turned dark wood frame. Oval, 102mm ( 4in) high Provenance: Christie's London, 15 April 1997, lot 4 D.S. Lavender Ltd, London, February 2013; The Twinight Collection
Bonhams
Nov. 30, 2023
Forster, Thomas: Miniatur Portrait eines jungen Mannes mit gepuderter Allongeperücke
Est: €700 - €800
Miniatur Portrait eines jungen Mannes mit grau gepuderter Allongeperücke, in gebauschtem Seidenumhang und geknoteter weißer Halsbinde mit Fransenrand. -- Unten rechts signiert und datiert "TForste[r] / delin / 17[..]". -- Plumbago auf Pergament kaschiert auf Karton. 9,6 x 8,1 cm (oval) wie in der Abbildung, 9,1 x 7,5 cm im Rahmen. In gekehltem und gedrechseltem, schwarz gebeiztem Holzrahmen. Um 1705/1710. -- -- -- -- - Wir bitten darum, Zustandsberichte zu den Losen zu erfragen, da der Erhaltungszustand nur in Ausnahmefällen im Katalog angegeben ist. -- - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalogue.
Bassenge Auctions
Mar. 25, 2020
THOMAS FORSTER (BRITISH 1677-1712) Portrait miniature of a gentleman called Mr. Hill, Mrs. Parbery's father, wearing robe with striped lining, stock and tied cravat with full bottomed curling wig Signed on the obverse T. Fo and indistinctly dated 17
Est: £600 - £800
THOMAS FORSTER (BRITISH 1677-1712) Portrait miniature of a gentleman called Mr. Hill, Mrs. Parbery's father, wearing robe with striped lining, stock and tied cravat with full bottomed curling wig Signed on the obverse T. Fo and indistinctly dated 17 ? Plumbago on vellum Original turned wood frame Oval, 62 mm (2 2/4 in) high Exhibited: Comerford Collection at the Irish Architectural Archives, Dublin, 2009 Literature: The Comerford Collection: Portrait Miniatures, (privately published, Dublin, 2009) pp 7, 23 (#55), 67 (sitter #17) Plumbago drawings are graphite drawings from the 17th and 18th centuries. There was a group of artists whose work in plumbago is remarkable for their portraits drawn with finely pointed pieces of graphite and on vellum. Initially these works were often prepared as the basis of an engraving. As time went by they would be produced as works in their own right. Forster was one of the major draftsmen in this form of portraiture, both on vellum and on paper.
Chiswick Auctions
Sep. 12, 2019
Thomas Forster and Sons Ltd. Part Tea Set Together with James Kent Ltd. Teapot
Est: $60 - $80
Thomas Forster and Sons Ltd. Part Tea Set Together with James Kent Ltd. Teapot
Lawsons
Sep. 05, 2019
Thomas Forster and Sons Ltd. Part Tea Set Together with James Kent Ltd. Teapot
Est: $80 - $120
Thomas Forster and Sons Ltd. Part Tea Set Together with James Kent Ltd. Teapot
Lawsons
Jul. 05, 2017
THOMAS FORSTER | Portrait of a gentleman, possibly Sir Benjamin Hudson, Bt. (b. circa 1665)
Est: £1,500 - £2,000
Plumbago on vellum, turned wood frame; signed centre right: TForster / delin / 1700
Sotheby's
Apr. 30, 2016
ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS FORSTER: MINIATURE PORTRAIT OF A LADY
Est: $500 - $800
ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS FORSTER: MINIATURE PORTRAIT OF A LADY Pencil on paper; together with three 18th century oval miniatures, pencil on paper. 4 1/8 x 3 1/8 in., 5 1/4 x 4 1/4 in., 5 3/8 x 4 1/4 in., and 3 1/4 x 2 1/4 in. (sight). Provenance: Lady, Sold Sotheby Parke Bernet, London, March 15, 1982, Lot 40. Property from the Estate of Paula Peyraud
STAIR
Dec. 17, 2014
Thomas Forster
Est: £4,000 - £6,000
Thomas Forster
Sotheby's
Nov. 27, 2014
Attributed to Thomas Forster. A portrait of a girl in a dress and a lace cap. Miniature on vellum. 3.7cm x 2.9cm, oval; English school, circa 1770. Portrait of a lady, in profile to the left, wearing a hat. On ivory. 4.5cm x 3.5cm. Each in an oval
Est: £200 - £300
Attributed to Thomas Forster. A portrait of a girl in a dress and a lace cap. Miniature on vellum. 3.7cm x 2.9cm, oval; English school, circa 1770. Portrait of a lady, in profile to the left, wearing a hat. On ivory. 4.5cm x 3.5cm. Each in an oval gilt metal frame (2)
Dreweatts 1759
Jul. 05, 2011
Thomas Forster (?Northumberland c.1677-1712)
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
Thomas Forster (?Northumberland c.1677-1712) Portrait of John Blackstone (1649-1716) aged 58, bust-length, in a long-flowing wig signed and dated 'T Forster/delin/1707' (centre right) and inscribed 'AEtatis/58' (lower left, partially overmounted) and further inscribed 'John Blackstone (son of John...?) of Wandsworth, Surry [sic] Esq., formerly citizen and Apothecary of London. Born A.D. 1649 Died A.D. 1716, Grandfather to S. Wm. Blackstone, he had 11 children, 8 sons, 3 daughters.' (on the verso of the original backing according to the previous cataloguing) plumbago on vellum, oval 4 5/8 x 3½ in. (11.7 x 8.9 cm.)
Christie's
Jun. 02, 2009
THOMAS FORSTER (ENGLISH, C. 1677-1712)
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
THOMAS FORSTER (ENGLISH, C. 1677-1712) A young lady, in satin open gown fastened with a gem-set brooch, ruffled shift, satin mantle, long curling hair plumbago on vellum oval, 4 3/8 in. (112 mm.) high, ebonised turned wood frame with gilt-wood interior border, the backing paper of the frame inscribed 'L. Ferriere 1T586.'
Christie's
Nov. 04, 2008
Manner of Thomas Forster c.1690- Plumbago portrait
Est: £100 - £200
Manner of Thomas Forster c.1690- Plumbago portrait of a woman, head study, with natural curled hair, traditionally held to be Madam de Mont**; graphite on vellum, bears later inscription verso, 12x9.6cm., (unframed)
Roseberys
Oct. 07, 2008
Manner of Thomas Forster c.1690- Plumbago portrait
Est: £150 - £200
Manner of Thomas Forster c.1690- Plumbago portrait of a woman, head study, with natural curled hair, traditionally held to be Madam de Mont**; graphite on vellum, bears later inscription verso, 12x9.6cm., (unframed)
Roseberys
Sep. 10, 2008
Manner of Thomas Forster c.1690- Plumbago portrait
Est: £200 - £300
Manner of Thomas Forster c.1690- Plumbago portrait of a woman, head study, with natural curled hair, traditionally held to be Madam de Mont**; graphite on vellum, bears later inscription verso, 12x9.6cm., (unframed)
Roseberys
Nov. 21, 2007
Thomas Forster (British, 1677-1713) A Lady, wearing open robe, held with a pin over frilled underslip, a cloak about her shoulder held with a tied ribbon, her hair curled high and falling over her shoulders
Est: £1,000 - £1,500
A Lady, wearing open robe, held with a pin over frilled underslip, a cloak about her shoulder held with a tied ribbon, her hair curled high and falling over her shoulders. Plumbago on vellum, signed on the obverse T Forster , gilt-metal frame. Oval, 105mm ( 4 1/8in) high
Bonhams
Nov. 21, 2007
Thomas Forster (British, 1677-1713) A Lady, wearing silk dress with frilled white underslip, cloak over her right shoulder and striped veil in her hair
Est: £1,500 - £2,500
A Lady, wearing silk dress with frilled white underslip, cloak over her right shoulder and striped veil in her hair. Plumbago on vellum, signed on the obverse and dated T Forster/ Delin/ 1700 , turned black wood frame. Oval, 108mm ( 4 1/4in) high
Bonhams
Nov. 21, 2007
Thomas Forster (British, 1677-1713) A Gentleman, wearing cloak, jabot and very long curled wig
Est: -
A Gentleman, wearing cloak, jabot and very long curled wig. Plumbago on vellum, signed on the obverse and dated T Forster/ Delin/ 96 , original silver frame. Oval, 111mm ( 4 3/8in) high Provenance: W. H. Blaauw, 1862 F. W. Cosens F.S.A., Christie's, 20 May 1890, lot 393 Francis Wellesley, Sotheby's, 1920, lot 353 J. Thursby-Pelham, 1934 Christie's, 12 December 1978, lot 26 Exhibited: South Kensington Museum, 1862 British Art, Royal Academy, 1934, no.1315 Literature: Walpole Society, vol.XIV, p.75 (which rejects a former identification of the sitter as Samuel Pepys)
Bonhams
Nov. 21, 2007
Thomas Forster (British, 1677-1713) A Lady, wearing robe, pinned to her underslip with a jewelled brooch and cloak
Est: -
A Lady, wearing robe, pinned to her underslip with a jewelled brooch and cloak. Plumbago on vellum, signed on the obverse and dated Forster/ Delin/ 1698 , turned black wood frame. Oval, 113mm ( 4 7/16in) high Provenance: Limner Antiques, 5 November 1996
Bonhams