Lost Dalí Illustration, Purchased for £150, Now Valued at Up to £30,000
A watercolor and felt-tip illustration by Salvador Dalí, initially overlooked and sold for just £150, has been re-evaluated and is now estimated to be worth between £20,000 and £30,000. The artwork, titled Vecchio Sultano, was discovered during a house clearance sale in Cambridge two years ago and its remarkable story highlights the unpredictable nature of the art market and the enduring appeal of the surrealist master.
From Garage Sale Find to Potential Fortune
The unusual piece attracted minimal attention at auction, drawing only two bidders before being acquired for a modest sum. Its current valuation stems from confirmation that it is an illustration of an “old sultan” painted by Dalí in 1966, part of a larger, abandoned project. Vecchio Sultano is a mixed media artwork depicting a scene from The Arabian Nights.
According to a fine art specialist at Cheffins in Cambridge, which is handling the sale on October 23rd, Dalí harbored a deep fascination with Moorish culture, even believing himself to be of Moorish descent. “Dalí was quite obsessed with Moorish culture and believed himself to be from a Moorish line,” the specialist stated.
An Unfinished Masterpiece
The illustration was commissioned by Giuseppe and Mara Albaretto with the intention of creating 500 illustrations based on Middle Eastern folktales. However, Dalí completed only 100 before abandoning the project, leaving the vast majority unpublished. Of those 100 illustrations, half were either damaged or lost by the Italian publishing house Rizzoli, while the remaining 50 remained with the Albarettos and were later inherited by their daughter, Christina – who was also Dalí’s goddaughter.
The Albaretto family’s collection of 50 illustrations was published in 2014, sparking renewed interest in the unfinished series and prompting a search for the remaining, unseen works.
A Lucky Punt and a Keen Eye
The buyer, a Cambridge-based antiques dealer who prefers to be known only as John Russell, stumbled upon Vecchio Sultano without realizing its potential significance. “The auction isn’t online, so you turn up, view, and whatever you see, [that] is your chance to discover a treasure,” Russell explained. He admitted to taking “a bit of a punt” based solely on Dalí’s signature in the bottom right corner.
Russell discovered the painting had previously been listed in a Sotheby’s auction in the 1990s thanks to stickers on the back, prompting further research. He described his excitement, stating, “I did a little bit of research and I couldn’t believe what I was looking at.” His decision to bid was also influenced by his enjoyment of the BBC television show Fake or Fortune, which honed his ability to identify authentic artwork.
Authentication and Unique Style
Despite being identified as an original Dalí painting, the artwork garnered little interest at the initial auction, with vendors not even setting a reserve price. Russell secured the piece with a bid of £150 after competing with only one other bidder. After locating a Sotheby’s catalogue via eBay in the US, Russell contacted Cheffins for a valuation.
Cheffins subsequently consulted Nicolas Descharnes, a renowned Dalí expert, who confirmed the painting’s authenticity. Descharnes noted that the style, subject matter, and colors aligned with other pieces from the series, as did the quality and size of the paper. “People expect to see very surrealist pieces by Dalí. This one is not surrealist, but it’s a Dalí,” Descharnes explained, highlighting the artwork’s unique character within Dalí’s broader oeuvre.
The painting is set to go under the hammer on October 23rd, offering a remarkable opportunity for collectors and a testament to the enduring power of artistic discovery.
