Ten forgotten signed Dalí lithographs to be auctioned
Buyer intended to frame the works at home but forgot about them in their garage for 50 years
Ten lithographs made and signed by Catalan surrealist painter Salvador Dalí will go on auction after being found in a London garage where they had been forgotten about for decades.
In a press release, Hansons Auctioneers explained that the haul also includes five works from French artist Theo Tobiass.
A representative from the firm was called out to assess antiques at a client's home and made the discovery.
"During the visit, the vendor took me to his garage and, lo and behold, out came this treasure trove of surrealist lithographs – all 15 of them," the press release quotes the Hansons associate director, Chris, as saying. "They’d been tucked away and forgotten about for around 50 years. It felt quite surreal. You never know what you’re going to uncover on a routine home visit."
The buyer originally paid £500 for the collection at a closing-down sale at a London gallery and had the intention of framing them in their home.
Now, they intend to retire and move abroad, and the money will go towards that.
It's expected that the Dalí works will sell for £300-£500 each.
“Dalí and Tobiasse are highly regarded and anything connected to them is sought after," Chris from Hansons Auctioneers said in the press release. "These lithographs provide an inexpensive way to own a signed print.”
The lithographs will be offered on September 30 in the Hansons Richmond Fine Art, Antiques and Collectibles Auction.
Legacy in surrealism
Surrealism, a movement that emerged in the early part of the last century, sought to channel the unconscious as a means of unlocking the mysteries of human existence.
Dalí embraced this philosophy with passion, filling his paintings with dreamlike imagery, distorted perspectives, and irrational juxtapositions.
Through his exploration of the subconscious, Dalí challenged social norms and conventions, inviting viewers to question the nature of reality and the limits of perception.
His methodical approach, coupled with his limitless imagination, produced a body of work that continues to fascinate and provoke thought to this day.
To learn more about Salvador Dalí's life, listen to the latest episode of our podcast Filling the Sink.