L’Arc Volant by Tanguy.

A sale of “exceptional” surrealist art including a Joan Miro painting that has not been seen for more than half a century is set to raise millions next month.

The Barcelona-born painter’s 1939 work The Ladder of Escape is alone estimated to sell for around £8 million (€9.6 million) at the sale at Christie’s auction house in central London on February 6.

It is the first time it has been offered for sale in almost 60 years and not seen in public for more than 50 years.

Other items in the sale include works by some of leading names of the Surrealist movement, such as Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte.

The entire auction has a pre-sale estimate of £30 million to £46.8 million (€36-56.3 million).

Olivier Camu, Christie’s deputy chairman of Impressionist and Modern Art, said: “This pioneering movement of 20th century art now commands the attention of the global art market, with Christie’s auctions attracting new collectors each year from around the world and from other collecting areas, notably Contemporary art.

Surrealist and Dada art – specifically works in this sale – provide an unparalleled bridge for collectors

“We witnessed a remarkable growth in demand since we held the standalone Dada and Surrealism sale in 1989 and established the annual Art of the Surreal Sale in 2001.

“Surrealist and Dada art – specifically works in this sale – provide an unparalleled bridge for collectors.

“For those who love Impressionist and Modern Art, the works break new boundaries and look forcefully and creatively ahead; for collectors who love contemporary art they showcase the daring, challenging and innovative explorations of the artistic masterminds who set the foundations and context for many of the greatest contemporary and classic post-war artists.

“They sought, as Andre Breton its founder stated, ‘to resolve the ­previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality into an absolute reality, a ­super-reality’.”