A treasure trove of prints signed by Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali which had been “tucked away and forgotten” for 50 years have been found in a garage.
The lithographs cost £500 when they were bought in the 1970s and could now fetch around £5,000 when they are put up for auction.
The haul, which also includes five lithographs by French painter, engraver, illustrator and sculptor Theo Tobiasse, was discovered at a home in Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London, during a clear out.
Antiques expert Chris Kirkham, who is associate director of London’s Hansons Richmond auction house, called the find “amazing” and “surreal”.
He told Sky News: “I think the fact these have lay dormant so long has ensured the colours are fresh and each being signed by Dali gives people a wonderful opportunity to own something the great man has touched.
“It was an amazing find. I was invited to assess some antiques at a client’s home.
“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.
“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 paid a modest £500 for the lithographs, all unframed, in a closing down sale at a central London gallery in the 1970s.
“He purchased them with a view to framing them for his home in Berkeley Square but never got round to it. So the prints ended up in his garage.
“They were rediscovered because the seller has been having a clear out.
“He’s looking to retire and move abroad, so now his lithographs will finally see the light of day at auction.”
Hansons said the Dali lithographs have a guide price of £300-£500 each, while the Tobiasse works are at £100-£300 each.
They will go under the hammer at Hansons Richmond on 30 September.
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Who was Salvador Dali?
He was a Catalonian surrealist who had associations with avant-garde movements, particularly surrealism
Born in May 1904, he became one of the most prolific artists of the 20th century.
Hansons Richmond auction house says on its website how he was renowned for his technical skill and bizarre images.
He was influenced by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro and Sigmund Freud.
His work covered paintings, sculpture, film, graphic art, animation, fashion and photography.
Dali died in Spain in January 1989 at the age of 84.