London, Aug 29 (EFE).- A collection of ten lithographs by the Spanish painter Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) found in a London garage, where they had remained forgotten for half a century, will go on sale on September 30 by the auction house Hansons Richmond.
The lithographs cost £500 (594 euros) when they were bought in the 1970s and could now fetch around £5,000 (5,949) when they go up for auction.
The discovery, which also included five lithographs by the French painter, illustrator and sculptor Theo Tobiasse, occurred during a routine visit to assess works of art at a home in Berkeley Square, in the Mayfair neighborhood.
According to a statement on the auction house’s website, antiques expert Chris Kirkham, associate director of London-based gallery Hansons Richmond, it is a “stunning” discovery.
“I think the fact that they have been dormant for so long has ensured that the colours are fresh and by bearing Dali’s signature it gives people a wonderful opportunity to own something that the great man touched,” he said.
“They had been hidden and forgotten for about 50 years. It was quite surreal. You never know what you’re going to discover during a routine visit to a house,” he added.
Kirkham revealed that the buyer of the works had intended to frame them to hang in his home but never got around to doing so “and they ended up in his garage.”
“They were rediscovered because the seller had been cleaning up. He is thinking of retiring and moving abroad, so these lithographs will finally see the light of day on the day of the auction,” he said.
The genius of surrealism became one of the most prolific artists of the 20th century.
(c) EFE Agency
