Help Idenifying Salvador Dali Artwork

[JClay]

Hello everyone - new guy here.

My parents just passed and I have a bunch of stuff from the house I could use help with. I'm starting with 2 Salvador Dali prints - my parents travelled the world and collected lots of artwork over the years. I saw a recent similar thread and if I could get help like the other poster that would be great. I know nothing about art.
These have been hanging in my parent's home almost 40 years.

One is a pencil-signed limited-numbered color plate (246/250) with certificate of authenticity called "Madonna" from a gallery in NYC dated 1978. The image measures 19" by 13" but the frame is much bigger. There is glittery gold sprinkled over certain areas.

Other one appears to be a ball point pen with "A.E." under the pencil signature- signed/dated from '62. This has no COA and measures 11-1/2" by 8" and signed in pen.

Both are professionally framed and in excellent condition. The back of each frame is sealed in paper. I would like to move them but I have no idea of value. Any help would be great!
Thanks,
Jeff in Connecticut

 

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[bill from lachine]

Jeff,

Would suggest you have them professionally evaluated by a reputable art gallery/expert in your area......it shouldn't cost very much and
would be much closer to the actual value than an off the cuff value put on them by myself on anyone else on the forum.

Good luck!

Regards + HH

Bill

 

[JClay]

Thanks Bill. I've contacted a number of galleries around here and no one really deals with Dali so I'm still in the dark. I was told about a Dali museum in Florida and another in europe. I'm leery to send them anywhere at this point.

 

[bill from lachine]

Jeff,

Do a google search "Salvador Dali limited edition prints"....there's a gallery which specializes in his work and does appraisals.

Good luck!

Regards + HH

Bill

Thanks Bill. I've contacted a number of galleries around here and no one really deals with Dali so I'm still in the dark. I was told about a Dali museum in Florida and another in europe. I'm leery to send them anywhere at this point.

 

[capt-zero]

Can't give you an exact value, but the first one appears to be an original engraving from an edition of 250. It is nice that it is pencil signed and adds to the value. The second I can't identify, but you may be able to by searching Dali lithographs or engravings. The 'EA' means 'artist's proof' so would be more sought after than the first one. Is the raised area of the second, a part of the print or is it matting from the framing? If it is a raised area of the print itself, it is most likely also an engraving. Neither appear to be an original, in the sense that a pen and ink would be a 'one only', but engravings, as long as they are made with the original plate, are considered 'original' etchings. The first definately was part of an edition, the second was almost certainly part of an edition also, else why the designation as "EA"? Both, if authentic, are quite valuable.

The first thing you should do, is contact the signator of the COA and find out what you can about the edition represented. Is it the first edition? Were there other editions of this plate made? How many? I can almost garantee the signator will be reluctant to give you any information, but if neseccary be persistent. Just point out that you wish a verbal confirmation of the fact that he signed coas for what editions of Dali engravings.
As to the second, first you need to identify it. If you carefully remove the paper backing from the frame, there might be information about the work written on the back of the matting. You need to identify the work. I just did a quick search of Dali etchings and could find neither of them. This might be a good sign, as this may indicate there are only few of these prints out there. Both should be taken to an expert to be evaluated. This can be quite pricey, but is generally worth it, unless they prove to be replicas. Generic, unevaluated Dali etchings are selling at auction for $100-$200. Authenticated first edition engravings are going for thousands. Good luck, and as an aside, I love your etchings. Any help you might need in your quest I'd be happy to assist as possible.

capt-zero

 

[Phanntom]

This is a job for professionals. Dali had a lot of works titled Madonna, but all seemed to be "Madonna and something, or at something etc." , so a "Madonna" only might be quite rare...in fact, I'm reasonably sure it is...I couldn't find it in the course of several internet searches. The second one I was able to find a couple of depictions using the same style but not the same image. You can always check Christies or Sotheby's too. If they're impressed enough with the pieces the appraisal is usually free if you allow them to handle the sale. Very impressive in any case.

 

[JClay]

Thanks guys. Good info - I couldn't find anything from internet searches either. One local gallery told me that these are from before the time period that replicas started to impact the market but once again, I know nothing about art.

 

[Atw]

Did you sell the dali's - if not I might be interested.

Andy

 

[DCMatt]

The second image is Don Quixote.



DCMatt

 

[nhbenz]

I'm thinking the "Madonna" might have been untitled, and just given the descriptor by the gallery, in line with the known names of his other works. Here is a similar one not surprisingly just called "nude on horseback"; Salvador Dali, Spanish, 1904-1989, Nude on Horseba - Alex Cooper Auctioneers

 

[Mackaydon]

This site may interest you: Finding the Fakes
Personally, I hope they are authentic, but best to keep an open mind until authenticated.
Don.....

 

[stefen]

Dale was an extremely prolific artist/sculpture/draftsman/graphic artist with in excess of 1500 original work recorded to date.

I agree with Phanntom regarding contacting the larger auction houses for an accessment...they have associate contacts all over the US...mail an inquiry with a picture and relevant data...and state that you are interested in selling...

Good luck...

 

[Minrelica]

This site may interest you: Finding the Fakes
Personally, I hope they are authentic, but best to keep an open mind until authenticated.
Don.....

Yes, I was about to post this which happens to be in the link you provided. I hope they are real as well but this is the first thing that came to mind.

During the 80s, the height of the forgeries, Dalí himself addressed the issue. In a formal letter published through his lawyer, Dalí denied a rumor that he had signed a vast quantity of blank paper, to be printed on at a later date. He said works made between the 70s and 80s, credited to himself, were to be looked at carefully before they were accepted as true Dalís. Despite his claims, historians have determined that Dalí did, in fact, sign blank sheets of paper, mostly to more easily facilitate his own art. Fortunately, these sheets have almost all been accounted for and are not part of the forgeries themselves. However, their existence made forgery much easier than it might otherwise have been.

 

[nhbenz]

Another one of the nude on horseback; Lithographs - Collectors Place
But, as mentioned, you're really better off just taking them for assessment somewhere.

 

[AU Seeker]

This is just an observation on my part, but the first piece the Dali signature and the "246/250" seems to be on the matting and not the actual artwork, I'm not sure how this would affect the authenticity of the artwork.

On the second piece Dali's signature is indeed on the artwork and not the matting, but the A.E. is on the matting.

I also noticed that if you compare both of "Dali's" signature, they may have the same "flare" and somewhat similar, but they don't look alike IMHO, but that might help in these being originals and not fake from what I have read, here's a link to a website about a book written on Dali signatures, and they say there are over 678 different Dali signatures and autographs!!!

112-dali-signatures

But I not an "Art" person/professional so I hope you do have original Dali's!!!

Here's another site that claims to be able to authenticate his artwork, not sure where you live but maybe they're close to you?

Chicago Appraisers Association | Dali Prints & Etchings Authentication

 

[Kendellle]

Posted: Monday, April 26, 2010 11:10 pm
Jeffery Kurz | 0 comments
SOUTHINGTON - Two pieces of art stemming from the work of Salvador Dali, one of the 20th century's pre-eminent surrealist artists, have found their way from someone's closet to the wall of Paris in Plantsville, a fledgling art gallery on West Main Street that has been generating a lot of local interest.
The works arrived at the gallery about three weeks ago, thanks to Pamela Bristol, the owner of Move Over Martha, on Center Street.
"She trusted us enough to leave them here," said Sean Michanczyk, the gallery owner.
"Pam really helped us out a lot, because she knew they had to be put into a gallery and not stuck in a closet for another 20 years," he said.
"It's huge," said Jordan Deschene, the gallery's general manager and drawing instructor.
The gallery held its first media night Monday, a modest initial effort that featured short films from the surrealist era. About a dozen people were expected to attend the event, in what organizers hope will become a monthly presentation.
The two Dali pieces are related to a 1971, 12-piece suite of etchings called the "Song of Songs of King Solomon." One is titled "Two Nudes," the other "Nude on Horseback." Both are signed and include the initials EA, which stands for epreuve d'artiste, which in English translates to artist's proof.

 

[Kendellle]

This was dated 2010 and if you google dali nude on horseback, you can seethe article.

 

[surf]

All most helpful, though the OP has not darkened the door here since November 2012...

Here's a good book though.

 

[JClay]

Yes, I have been derelict about visiting here but actually went through a divorce and a move. Still have the Dali's and thanks so much to everyone for your help.
Now to follow up with all the advice.......

 

[JClay]

Hello all, I'm revisiting these Dali works finally and just wanted to thank everyone who helped back in '13. I still have them and will start digging to find out as much as I can on these....