One of the rarest works by the master of surrealism, Salvador Dalí, has broken a record at an auction recently held by the prestigious Sotheby's, selling for $858,500 - a sum that significantly exceeds the initial estimate of $580,000.
The work, titled “The Overflowing Sea Necklace,” is an 18-karat gold necklace with a complex and symbolic design that reflects Dalí’s mastery of fusing art with luxury. It weighs 156 grams and is constructed using diamonds, a large central pearl, and sapphire and emerald beads, creating the effect of waves rising and breaking on a golden shore – a typical metaphor for the artist’s imaginative world.
The history of this necklace is as rich as its design. Dalí conceived the work in 1954, at the height of his surrealist creativity, while its production was carried out in 1963 by the prestigious atelier “Alemany & Co.” in New York, commissioned by Sao Schlumberger, one of the most famous, elegant and influential collectors in the world of art and fashion of that time.
After decades in the hands of private collectors, the work ended up at auction, where interest from international collectors was extremely high, driving the price to record levels. The sale is considered a significant moment for the surrealist art market, proving that Dalí's influence remains alive today, almost half a century after his death.
Salvador Dalí (1904–1989), one of the greatest and most controversial figures in 20th-century art, is known not only for his famous paintings such as “The Persistence of Memory,” but also for his experiments in other fields such as sculpture, poetry, photography, and artistic jewelry.
Dalí's jewelry collection represents a lesser-known aspect of his work, but one that clearly demonstrates his love of detail, extravagance, and the combination of art and technical mastery. Each work in this series is conceived as a timeless expression of imagination, where art, wealth, and symbolism uniquely blend.
With this latest sale, “The Necklace of the Flowing Sea” enters the history of international auctions as one of the most valuable works of surrealist jewelry of the 20th century, confirming once and for all Salvador Dalí's status as a genius who transcended the boundaries between art, fashion, and visual philosophy.
