A woman who bought a glass vase for $3.99 at a local Goodwill charity shop has seen the piece auctioned off for more than $100,000 after it turned out to be a rare and valuable piece of Italian glassware.

Jessica Vincent had bought the item at a Goodwill thrift store in Hanover county, Virginia, and had an inkling that it might have been worth a little more than was usual, she told the New York Times.

“I had a sense that it might be a $1,000 or $2,000 piece, but I had no clue how good it actually was until I did a little bit more research,” she told the paper after noticing a small ‘M’ on its bottom which she suspected might stand for Murano, an Italian island near Venice famed for glasswork.

  • badbytes@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Well, I would expect someone called “Vase Women” to know a thing or two bout them.

    • jopepa@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Photos alway look 5% compared seeing glasswork. Could be valued for the techniques, materials, the art’s story, or even someone’s favorite kind of ugly.

      If I paid $50 at a flea market for it I’d eventually feel like i got ripped off, so I see what you mean.

      • Drusas@kbin.social
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        11 months ago

        I assume the value is based on its history and popularity of the original artist. I still don’t think it’s anything special.

  • Dyskolos@lemmy.zip
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    11 months ago

    Phht. Amateurs. I’ll buy a vase for 100 grand only to later discover it’s true worth of 3,99.

      • Dyskolos@lemmy.zip
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        11 months ago

        Hmmm… I sense dishonesty. Are you sure it’s a worthless low quality vase and your price will be exaggerated and obscensely high? 🤔 Like nowadays popular fashion-brands?

  • OldWoodFrame@lemm.ee
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    11 months ago

    This makes me think of the gold shoes that a thrift store recognized and sold for $20k. I’d much rather that money go to the shop than that lady.

    • modcolocko@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      11 months ago

      Thrift stores in America are usually corporate and not for charity. Or, they pretend to be charities (but aren’t)

      Goodwill is fucking evil.

    • foggianism@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      It reminded me of the guy who bought a golden egg thinking it would be worth to melt it and sell the gold. Luckily, he found out he had in his posession a long lost Faberge Egg that is worth many times over its weight in gold.

    • Graphy@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Honestly thrifting sucks hard these days.

      I went to one of those goodwills that bring out totes of items and you buy things by the pound. There was at least 15 people just waiting like little gremlins waiting for the next tote to come out.

      Definitely had a feeling they were all there to resell

  • JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Serious question: how is this pricing model different from speculative value as it applies to real estate or stocks?

    • Rinox@feddit.it
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      11 months ago

      I mean, the price of anything luxury is just stupid, and you should be aware you are always getting scammed (which is why they want to sell you “luxury” apartments or whatever. It’s the same as a normal apartment, but costs twice as much).

      As for, in this case, it’s just happenstance. I don’t think she finds designer art at goodwill as her job. Also, I don’t care if there’s speculation on art pieces, as long as we start closing tax break loopholes connected to art pieces.

      The speculation on homes is a much more egregious problem, as nobody needs an Italian designer vase, but everyone needs a home.

    • Chainweasel@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Because someone actually paid the $100,000+, it’s no longer speculation when someone has already given the money for it. “it sold for X” is very different from “it could sell for X, to the right buyer”

    • FadoraNinja@lemmy.worldB
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      11 months ago

      Potentially, the labor and skill involved in the production. While speculation does play a part, so does the rarity, difficulty of production, & skill needed in the creation of the art. You may argue whether that justifies the price, but at least there is labor and material evidence, while stocks and property don’t necessarily need any real evidence of value to be valued, especially in our current economic climate.