An extraordinary art discovery has emerged from what seemed like an ordinary estate sale, where an anonymous art dealer purchased a Salvador Dalí painting for just £150 (approximately $187) that has now been authenticated as an original work valued at up to £30,000 (about $37,000).
The remarkable find occurred at a house clearance sale in Cambridge in 2023, where the eagle-eyed buyer recognized the potential value of what would later be confirmed as a genuine piece by one of the world's most famous surrealist artists. The mixed media artwork, titled "Vecchio Sultano," will be auctioned by Cambridgeshire-based auctioneers Cheffins on October 23, with a pre-sale estimate ranging from £20,000 to £30,000 ($25,000 to $37,000).
What makes this discovery even more intriguing is that the painting had previously been offered for sale at Sotheby's in the 1990s, where it was fully attributed to Dalí at that time. Somehow, the work lost its attribution over the years, making its rediscovery all the more significant in the art world.
Gabrielle Downie, an associate at Cheffins auction house, explained the rarity of such finds: "The loss of an attribution is quite rare in the modern art world, making it a significant rediscovery. To handle a genuine rediscovery of a work by who is easily one of the most famous artists in the world, and the godfather of Surrealism, is a real honor."
Downie praised the buyer's expertise, noting: "It is a testament to the seller's significant art knowledge that he was able to spot this picture at a house clearance sale. While Dalí's work is often some of the most recognizable, this is an unusual piece which shows a different side to his practice when working in watercolor."
The authentication process proved to be an exciting journey for all involved. The artwork has been certified as authentic by Nicolas Descharnes, a renowned Dalí expert, lending credibility to its attribution and significantly increasing its market value.
Measuring 38 centimeters by 29 centimeters (approximately 15 inches by 11.4 inches), "Vecchio Sultano" was created using watercolor paint and felt-tip pen. The piece depicts a scene from "The Arabian Nights" and represents part of an ambitious but ultimately unfinished project that reveals Dalí's fascination with Middle Eastern culture.
The painting's backstory adds another layer of intrigue to its discovery. It was originally commissioned as part of a series by wealthy Italian couple Giuseppe and Mara Albaretto. According to Downie, "The Albarettos who commissioned this work had initially asked Dalí to illustrate a bible in 1963, but upon Dalí's insistence, he instead ended up illustrating scenes from 1,001 Nights – a collection of Middle Eastern folktales."
Dalí's interest in this subject matter wasn't arbitrary. "It seems Dalí was fascinated with Moorish culture and believed himself to be from a Moorish line," Downie explained. The artist had envisioned creating 500 pieces depicting various Middle Eastern folktales, but the ambitious project was never completed.
"It seems that this project was abandoned, with Dalí only having completed 100 of the intended 500 works," Downie revealed. Of these 100 completed pieces, the collection was split in half. "Half remained with the publishing house Rizzoli and were either damaged or lost; the other 50 stayed with the Albarettos and were later inherited by their daughter, Christina, who was also Dalí's goddaughter."
The 50 works that remained with the Albaretto family were eventually published in 2016 by the Folio Society, giving the public a glimpse into this lesser-known aspect of Dalí's artistic output. Downie believes that "given that Dalí engineered the commission to suit his whims, that he very much enjoyed this project and the subject matter."
The expert suggests that the painting now heading to auction "is most likely that the work in question came from the batch of 50 which were retained and later lost by the publishers," explaining how such a significant piece could end up in an ordinary house clearance sale.
This discovery highlights a different side of Dalí's artistic practice, showing his versatility beyond the melting clocks and surreal landscapes for which he is best known. The watercolor medium and Middle Eastern themes represent a departure from his more famous oil paintings, offering collectors and art enthusiasts a unique perspective on the master's diverse creative output.
The upcoming auction represents not just a financial windfall for the astute buyer, but also an opportunity for the art world to reclaim a lost piece of Surrealist history. The dramatic increase in value – from £150 to potentially £30,000 – serves as a reminder that significant artworks can still be discovered in the most unexpected places, waiting for someone with the knowledge and eye to recognize their true worth.
For art collectors and enthusiasts, this story reinforces the importance of expertise and careful observation when browsing estate sales and clearance events. It also demonstrates how artworks can lose and regain their attributions over time, making authentication by recognized experts crucial in determining both artistic and monetary value.
The October 23 auction at Cheffins will ultimately determine the final value of this remarkable rediscovery, but regardless of the final hammer price, "Vecchio Sultano" has already secured its place as one of the most exciting art finds in recent years.
