Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest asks ‘are you kidding me’ after expert revealed the value of his painting (marketrealist.com)
Garage-Sale Dali Print Appraised at $30,000 on Antiques Roadshow
Sometimes, a dusty box in the garage holds more than old holiday decorations. Just ask one lucky Antiques Roadshow guest who recently discovered his father’s forgotten lithograph by none other than Salvador Dali.
The guest, who inherited the piece, brought it to the show hoping to learn a little more about its origins. He got quite the surprise when appraiser Todd Weyman revealed its true value.
The guest explained that he unearthed the artwork about five years prior, tucked away amidst the usual garage clutter. While he knew it was a Dali, courtesy of his father, the family’s knowledge ended there.
Apparently, the lithograph was given to the guest’s father by his uncle, an art gallery owner, either as repayment for a loan or as a thank you for an investment. The guest admitted to knowing little about the piece, other than it had spent the last five years in his basement, receiving only a quick dusting and a spritz of Windex before its Roadshow debut.
Weyman identified the piece as “Drawers of Memory,” a 1965 lithograph from a limited edition of 150. He explained that the work was inspired by an earlier Dali sculpture and painting from 1936, reflecting the artist’s fascination with Freudian psychology and the concept of hidden compartments within the human psyche. Despite some minor buckling around the edges, Weyman deemed the lithograph to be in excellent condition, suggesting only a re-matting to restore it to pristine shape.
When asked about his expectations for the piece’s value, the guest modestly hoped for $1,000 to $2,000. His reaction to Weyman’s appraisal of $30,000 was priceless: a stunned “What?
Are you kidding me?” followed by a celebratory “Whoo!
All righty!” Clearly, the news was more than welcome, and Weyman, after congratulating the guest, encouraged him to take good care of his newfound treasure.
It seems this family heirloom’s journey from garage dust to dazzling discovery is a true testament to the surprises that can be found when we least expect them.