In early August, details emerged of the auction of a rare Salvador Dalí watercolour at Cheffins. The watercolour Vecchio Sultano was originally created as part of a 500-piece illustration project for the fairy tale collection The Arabian Nights, commissioned by Dalí’s friends Giuseppe and Mara Albaretto. Only 100 sheets were completed, 50 of which remained with the Albarettos, while the rest were forgotten or destroyed at the Rizzoli publishing house, which had been responsible for printing.
See also: Rare Salvador Dalí Watercolour to Be Auctioned This Autumn
The present watercolour, measuring 38 by 29 cm, is likely one of the works that remained with Rizzoli. In 2023, it came to the attention of the current consignor, an anonymous art and antiques dealer from Cambridge, during a house clearance, and was purchased for £150 (almost $200).
“The seller was told the painting had been stored in a garage in London before appearing at the house clearance in central Cambridge. Thanks to his extensive knowledge and sharp eye for authenticity, this important piece has been reintroduced to the art market. Following research by the seller and our team, the work was examined by leading Dali expert Nicolas Descharnes, who confirmed its authenticity and consistency with other known examples in both style and paper quality,” explains Cheffins Director Brett Tryner, adding: “This work was a significant rediscovery for Dali scholars, and the picture saw incredible amounts of interest in the lead up to the auction. It had previously been offered at Sotheby’s in the 1990s, attributed to Dali, and subsequently disappeared from public record – an unusual occurrence in the modern art world. Researching and cataloguing this piece has been an exciting journey, and we’re thrilled that it achieved above its estimate.”
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The Vecchio Sultano had been estimated at £20,000 to £30,000. At the Cheffins “Art & Design Sale” on October 24, it sold for £45,700 (almost $60,000), including buyer’s premium, to an overseas bidder. This represents a remarkable increase compared with the £150 paid two years earlier. The discoverer and seller is understandably delighted: “I am over the moon with this result and am appreciative of everything which Cheffins has done in the lead up to the sale. It was genuinely very exciting to see it go under the hammer, and I am glad that it has reached the recognition which it deserves. The final price is around what we expected, and I was glad to see it sell after all the hard work and research which went into it.”
