A collection of Salvador Dalí prints discovered in a London garage after cleaning has sold for almost £20,000 at auction.
The 11 forgotten lithographs by renowned Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí were found in a house in Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London, after spending 50 years collecting dust.
They were purchased for £500 from an art gallery at a closing sale during the 1970s before spending decades languishing in a garage.
The “treasure trove” of artwork was recently found after the seller was doing some cleaning while preparing to move abroad.
The collection was expected to fetch £5,000 when it was auctioned today at Hansons Richmond in London, but ended up selling for four times as much, at £19,750.
In the photo, the 11 lithographs of the renowned Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dalí.
Auction lot 10, a limited edition lithograph signed by Salvador Dalí which sold for £4,900
The prints, purchased in the 1970s at an art gallery’s closing sale for £500, sparked worldwide media interest and intense competition among online and telephone bidders.
Catalan surrealist Salvador Dalí (pictured) received his formal fine arts education in Madrid.
A limited edition abstract color lithograph of nude figures signed by Dalí in pencil was the most sought after piece and sold for £4,900.
Another limited edition signed lithograph showing a woman in a yellow dress sold for £3,100 with all but one lot exceeding £1,000.
Chris Kirkham, associate director at Hansons Richmond in London, said: “It was a surprising find.
‘It sparked phenomenal interest around the world and phenomenal results.
‘The lithographs were sold to bidders in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. We are delighted for the people who were lucky enough to secure them and our client.
‘The discovery came after I was invited to appraise some antiques at the seller’s house in Mayfair.
‘During the visit he took me to his garage and, lo and behold, this treasure trove of surreal lithographs emerged.
They had been hidden and forgotten for about 50 years. It felt quite surreal. You never know what you’ll discover on a routine home visit.
Chris Kirkham, associate director of Hansons Richmond, London, with one of Dalí’s lithographs which sold for £1,300.
Lot 7, a limited color lithograph by Salvador Dalí, signed in pencil, which sold for £3,100. The prints were found in a London garage.
Lot 1, a limited edition lithograph signed by Salvador Dalí, sold for £1,300. Salvador Dalí joined the surrealists in 1929.
‘The buyer paid a modest £500 for the lithographs, all unframed, at a closing sale at a central London gallery in the 1970s.
He bought them with the intention of framing them for his house in Berkeley Square, but never got around to doing so. Then the prints ended up in his garage.
“They were rediscovered because the seller was doing a cleanup. He is looking to retire and move abroad, so his lithographs finally saw the light of day at auction.
‘The news of the discovery of the garage reached all corners of the world.
‘It sparked enormous media coverage and we are delighted because it helped us match these signed lithographs with people who will treasure them.
“We originally anticipated the collection would raise £5,000, but that quadrupled. Underlines the passion for Dalí.
“The same sale fetched £3,600 against a guide of £1,200-£1,800 for a limited edition (374/1,500) Dalí bronze figure titled The Surrealist Angel.”
Catalonia-born surrealist Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) received his formal fine arts education in Madrid.
He became increasingly attracted to avant-garde movements and joined the surrealist group in 1929, soon becoming a leading exponent.
One of the most prolific artists of the 20th century, he is known for his technical skill and bizarre images.
Influenced by the Old Masters and Sigmund Freud, his repertoire included painting, sculpture, film, graphic arts, animation, fashion and photography.