Hidden Treasure: Thrift Store Find Transformed Into a 6-Figure Valuable Vase
Lucky Goodwill shopper strikes gold with a $399 find! This exceptional Italian masterpiece, initially bought as a simple vase, astoundingly sold for a staggering $100,000
As a child, Jessica Vincent enjoyed going on frequent thrifting expeditions with her mother. This habit persisted into adulthood and recently paid off in a big way - a $3.99 glass vase she bought at a Goodwill store sold for over $107,000. Vincent and her partner were regular shoppers at the store, visiting two or three times a week. Thrifting was simply a fun and different way to relax on the way home.
Vincent immediately noticed the vase on the day of her profitable purchase in June. In a phone interview, she remarked, "People often tell me that I have a keen eye. You can place me in an aisle filled with items from the dollar store, and I can easily spot the one item with some value. I feel like I've honed my skills by watching a lot of Antiques Roadshow."
The elegant bottle-shaped design showcases a swirling pattern, skillfully crafted from translucent red and opaque seafoam green glass.
Vincent knew right away that it was a beautiful piece. She was surprised that nobody else had noticed its quality before her. She discovered markings on the base indicating it was made in Italy from high-end Murano glass. However, there was a mystery word so she shared photos in a glassware Facebook group. Fellow members and those in a separate group dedicated to Murano glass soon identified the missing word as "Venini," the famed Italian glassworks company.
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After examining the vase, Jessica Vincent explained to CNN, "The lighting was perfect, and I was able to distinguish three distinct markings. The first one was unfamiliar to me, but then I noticed 'Murano' and 'Italia.' That's when I knew, this vase belongs to me."
Courtesy Rago/Wright
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Jim Oliveira, a glass expert at Wright, expressed, "Amidst the many counterfeit pieces of Carlo Scarpa's work, experiencing an authentic example is a truly indescribable revelation and pleasure." This statement was made in an essay on the vase, courtesy of Rago/Wright.
Vincent remembered, "They were all like, 'This is really good.' People were mentioning different makers and designers until one person said, 'Oh, that's Carlo Scarpa... very top shelf, every collector's dream.' It turned out the vase is from Scarpa's "Pennellate" series that he designed for Venini in 1942. The term "Pennellate" translates as "brushstrokes," in reference to the pieces' painterly appearance. The vase showcases Scarpa's "concept of a vase as canvas," as explained by auction house Wright in its listing for the piece, and production numbers for the series were "very low," likely because the pieces were so difficult to make.
A thrift store shopper made a joke about finding a famous artist's work for $4, but it turned out to be true.
"When I first heard Jessica's story and saw the image of the vase, I knew this was authentic," said Richard Wright, founder of Wrights, in an email to CNN following the sale. He also added, "Scarpas' work in glass was one of the most innovative on the island of Murano. The Pennellate series was not widely produced or purchased in its day, so it is quite rare to find a piece such as this one."
The auction house sent experts to Vincent's home to verify the authenticity of the vase. It was then included in Wright's "Important Italian Glass" sale, with an estimated value of $30,000 to $50,000. The final sale price exceeded expectations, more than doubling the highest estimate. (The identity of the buyer remains unknown, although they are referred to as a "renowned collector.")
Vincent and her partner followed the auction online, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "We were trembling; we were cheering," she recalled. "I can't even describe the thrill in words."
"I'm happy to have owned a Pennellate," she said. "But I believe the best thing for me to do is to share it with the art world where it will be truly valued."
"I needed the money more than I needed the vase," she added, describing the unexpected money as "a blessing."
Vincent has already returned to the thrift store circuit, stating that she is "always on the lookout," whether it's for the next big-ticket auction item or just the perfect piece for her home. "I even went thrifting yesterday after the auction," she mentioned. "It's just something I will always do - it's the thrill of the hunt."
