A treasure trove of ten signed prints by renowned Spanish artist Salvador Dalí has recently been discovered after being hidden in a garage in London for 50 years. These colorful lithographs are now set to be auctioned off, with expectations of fetching £5,000 ($6,600). The discovery was made by Chris Kirkham, the associate director of Hansons Richmond auction house, during a routine assessment of antiques at a home in Berkeley Square.
The prints had been tucked away and forgotten about for half a century before being unearthed by Kirkham. Along with the Dalí prints, the homeowner also possessed five lithographs by Théo Tobiasse, a French painter and sculptor. All 15 pieces will go under the hammer on September 30, with each Dalí print expected to sell for £300 to £500 ($400 to $660) and each Tobiasse print for £100 to £300 ($130 to $400).
The homeowner originally purchased the collection of lithographs from a London gallery in the 1970s for a mere £500, a fraction of what they are now anticipated to be worth. Dalí, born in Spain in 1904, was a prominent figure in the Surrealist movement, known for his erotically charged and hallucinatory visions depicted in his art.
Dalí’s work often commands staggering prices, with his most expensive piece, Portrait de Paul Éluard, selling for around $17.8 million in 2011. The newly discovered prints are vibrant and rich in color, showcasing human forms intertwined with plants, animals, and architectural elements reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum.
Théo Tobiasse, on the other hand, was born to a Jewish family in Mandatory Palestine in 1927, later exploring themes of exile and isolation in his art following the trauma of World War II. Known for his Expressionist, figurative paintings, Tobiasse’s work adds a unique dimension to the collection up for auction.
The buyer of these prints had originally intended to frame and display them in his home but never got around to it. Now, after decades of being hidden away, these lithographs will finally see the light of day. The discovery of these prints, as Kirkham describes it, felt quite surreal, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of routine home visits.
The upcoming auction presents a rare opportunity for art enthusiasts to own a piece of history touched by the great Salvador Dalí himself. The blend of Dalí’s surrealism and Tobiasse’s expressionism in this collection makes it a truly remarkable find that is sure to captivate art lovers and collectors alike.
