Estate Sale Surprise: Dalí Painting Could Found!

Quick Smiles:

• A painting bought for £150 at an estate sale turned out to be an original Salvador Dalí.
• The artwork, named Vecchio Sultano, was part of an unfinished series inspired by The Arabian Nights.
• It’s now expected to sell for up to $37,000 at a Cambridge auction.

The thrill of estate sales often lies in the unexpected treasures waiting to be discovered. Recently, an antiquities dealer, who goes by the auction name John Russell, stumbled upon such a gem—a genuine Salvador Dalí painting—at a London apartment’s estate sale.

This painting, Vecchio Sultano, was one of the 100 illustrations Salvador Dalí completed out of a 500-piece commission inspired by The Arabian Nights.

Dalí, known for his fascination with Moorish culture, was commissioned by the Italian couple Giuseppe and Mara Albaretto for this ambitious project, although it remained unfinished.

Gabrielle Downie, a fine art specialist at an auction house in Cambridge, explained, “Dalí was quite obsessed with Moorish culture and believed himself to be from a Moorish line.”

Russell, who prides himself on his ability to spot genuine pieces, purchased the painting for a mere £150, driven by a hunch and years of experience watching a British television show about art authentication.

He remarked, “Most of the time, I buy stuff that I like. On this occasion, I was really taking a bit of a punt, because I wasn’t sure I’d have it on the wall, to be honest … I do like some unusual art, but you’d have to love it, wouldn’t you?”

Upon closer inspection, Russell noticed stickers on the back of the frame from a renowned auction house, which hinted at the painting’s authenticity.

He later confirmed its origin by purchasing the auction catalogue, which verified Vecchio Sultano as an original Dalí.

Now, this remarkable find is set to be auctioned at the Cambridge auction house, where it’s expected to fetch between $25,000 and $37,000.

A testament to the magic of estate sales, this discovery brings a forgotten Dalí back into the spotlight.

Source