A collection of 10 lithographs by Salvador Dalí and five by French artist Theo Tobiasse will soon be auctioned after being found in a London garage. “It was an incredible discovery,” Kirkham remarked. “The vendor led me to his garage, and to my surprise, I found a hidden treasure of surrealist lithographs that had been forgotten for about 50 years. It felt surreal.”

Chris Kirkham, associate director at the Richmond branch of Hansons auction house, discovered the artworks while visiting a consignor’s property in Mayfair’s upscale Berkeley Square. He was invited to check out some pieces stored outside the main house. 

The consignor had purchased the unframed lithographs for £500 from a London gallery that was closing down in the late 1970s, which is roughly equivalent to £2,400 today (around $3,100). He never framed or displayed the pieces and found them again while clearing out his home before retiring and relocating abroad. 

The lithographs are scheduled for auction on September 30 at Hansons Richmond, with Dalí’s works estimated to sell for between £300 and £500 ($396 to $659), while the Tobiasse pieces are expected to fetch £100 to £300 ($132 to $396).

Dalí’s lithographs are part of his 1978 series “L’Art d’Aimer d’Ovide” (Ovid’s Art of Loving), which creatively interprets characters from the works of the Latin poet Ovid. In one piece, Phoebus, this God Crowned with Laurels, Dalí depicts the Greek god of music and poetry illuminated by light from a storm cloud. Another work, Divine Erato, features the Greek muse adorned in yellow, surrounded by dragonflies and butterflies. The Daughter of Minos captures Phaedra and Theseus strolling outside a palace.

Printmaking was a key revenue source for Dalí, alongside his appearances in advertisements for brands like Iberia, Nissan, and Wrigley’s. He produced countless prints, realizing he could design an image on a metal plate and allow others to create multiple original prints. At times, he even pre-signed blank sheets to expedite the process; his secretary claimed Dalí signed 350,000 blank sheets throughout his career, contributing to his status as one of the most frequently forged artists.

The auction house noted that the lithographs’ colors remain vibrant due to being stored away from light for nearly 50 years. “Dalí and Tobiasse are highly esteemed, and anything related to them is highly sought after,” Kirkham stated. “These lithographs offer an affordable opportunity to own a signed print.”

 

Sayart / Amia Nguyen, amyngwyen13@gmail.com