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| From Etsy |
First, let me begin by saying THANK YOU! I received so many beautiful and heartfelt comments and emails yesterday about my blog Anniversary. I am humbled by your kindness and your compliments. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Recently, this still life painting sold at a Massachusetts auction house for $190,000.00! What is significant about this piece of news is that the owner of this painting purchased it 18 months ago at his local South Carolina Goodwill for $3.00. Leroy, a former antiques dealer had been perusing his local Goodwill and noticed the frame of this painting. When he got it home he thought perhaps it may be worth a bit more, so her researched similar still life’s on eBay and decided he could sell it for $100.00. His daughter- in- law had other ideas so she took it to the Antiques Roadshow and they recognized it as a 1650 Flemish painting and gave a conservative estimate of $30,000. It turns out that they were all wrong because on March 2, 2012 at auction the painting sold for $190,00!
Can you imagine one of your treasures turning out to be a Flemish work of art? Or perhaps the work of Ansel Adams? That was a story that took the art world by storm in 2010. Rick Norsigian, an artist/construction worker purchased the negatives 10 years ago at a garage sale, after a few years he hired an art investigator to gather information about the negatives. They were finally authenticated and valued at $200 million dollars!
I have never found anything that turned out to be a Masterpiece but I have found a few treasures and they grace the walls and shelves of my own home. I love perusing antique shops for landscape paintings, old books and my newest obsession…transfer ware.
Tell me, what do you like to look for at the flea markets, antique stores, auctions and thrift shops. Have you found some wonderful treasures like me? Do tell, I am all ears and would love to hear all about them.
Also, if you are looking for a fun chocolate treat come over to my other blog Once Upon A Chocolate Life and recipe for Triple Chocolate Kettle Corn.
I hope that you have a fabulous week!
Saturday Fun
Christine Hooker: Still Life Paitinings
Friday Favorites from Jenn Cuisine, Waiting on Martha, Bon Appetit, Half Baked Harvest and More
I Am A Pinterest Addict!
GOOD MORNING DEAREST! NOw this is a once in a lifetime find!!! CAN YOU IMAGINE that something you paid so little for could fetch such a HUGE AMOUNT???? ANd if I were a snacker ( I simple can't) then this popcorn would be it. I love popcorn and I love chocolate, and the two???? Only you will be able to tell me what it tastes like, FEELS like and oh, the glory! I can't eat popcorn anymore…it has its effects on me that are not good!!!!!!
ENJOY THIS FABULOUS MONDAY and thank YOU for the mention in your last anniversary post; it was such a blessing. Anita
What wonderful stories! I'm always hoping I might find "the BIG one". I always dream I will buy that box of miscellaneous items at an auction and lurking in the bottom will be a long lost treasure :-). A nice dream.
You deserved those wonderful comments. Have a fantastic week my friend!
Di
X
I read that article about the painting and what a find! I don't look for any one thing when out antiquing I just buy whatever catches my eye and I fall in love. Enjoy your day!
XX
Debra~
I love thrift stores and antique store searching/shopping. I look for pewter, silver and any metal figure…like dogs, horses or roosters. Transferware is a favorite too. So much fun. I've never found anything that was worth much more than I paid for it. 🙂
Karen at Garden, Home and Party
Great Post Elizabeth!
Both of those stories served to energize my hunter-gatherer persona. I have flea & antique markets imprinted onto my heart. I buy what stimulates my eyes' love of history, form and patina. Be it a subject of one of my still life paintings or a treasure to care for, my head may be turned by blue and white ceramics, Chinese pottery, patinated, painted wood in many forms, early textiles, old silver, painted tin and baskets, iron and gilt. It runs the gamut…no planning…just discovering…my way of 'panning for gold.'