THE $100,000 GOODWILL STORE VASE

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The E-Sylum: Volume 26, Number 52, December 24, 2023, Article 28

THE $100,000 GOODWILL STORE VASE

This one has really gone viral this week - the $3.99 Goodwill store purchase worth $100,000. It's also a story of condition, condition, condition - the vase would have been worth far less with a single scratch or chip. Another New York Times piece. Here's an excerpt. -Editor

Jessica Vincent made her way in June through a busy Goodwill thrift store in Hanover County, Va., passing VCRs, lamps and glassware commonly sold at big-box retailers. Nothing really caught her eye until she saw an iridescent glass vase.

There was no price on the vase. Ms. Vincent, 43, told herself she'd pay $8.99 and no more. When the cashier rang her up, it was $3.99.

When she returned home from the Goodwill thrift store in June, she joined Facebook groups for glass identification to learn more about the vase. Some members told her it looked like it was designed by Carlo Scarpa, a renowned Italian architect, and they referred her to Wright Auction House.

On Wednesday, the vase was auctioned for $107,100 to an unidentified private art collector in Europe. About $83,500 went to Ms. Vincent and about $23,600 went to Wright Auction House.

Specialists who evaluated the piece determined it was part of the Pennellate series that Mr. Scarpa designed in the 1940s. It's unclear how many vases of this kind were made, Mr. Wright said.

He said he was most impressed with the pristine condition of the glass.

If it had a chip — even a small chip — it would have probably sold for under $10,000, he said. This was like a winning lottery ticket.

Ms. Vincent said she's been visiting thrift stores with her mother since she was a girl and has developed an eye for hidden treasures over the years. Ms. Vincent also said that she is an avid Antiques Roadshow fan and loves to research her purchases.

This also shows the value of research. While I'd never trust the internet for valuation advice, it's a great way to connect with the appropriate experts. -Editor

To read the complete article, see:
Vase Bought at Goodwill for $3.99 Sells for More Than $100,000 (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/17/us/goodwill-vase-auction-carlo-scarpa.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com

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