All articles tagged with #thrift store
Ansley Martin’s family portrait, once a fixture in her childhood home, turned up for sale at a thrift store about an hour from where she grew up; neither parent donated it, and how it got there remains a mystery. She chose not to buy it, and it later vanished from the shelf, prompting laughing, baffled reactions on TikTok and a nod to Philly AIDS Thrift.
Ansley Martin discovered a family portrait from 2002 for sale at a Philadelphia thrift store, despite her parents' divorce and no record of its donation. She declined to buy it, leaving the item's current location unknown.
A nostalgia-filled guide to quintessential 1980s thrift-store finds—fiber optic and plaster floor lamps, lotus and smoked-glass lighting, rack stereo systems, boomboxes, VHS players, and iconic decor like Pyrex and Nagel/Ferraro art—plus practical tips on testing, condition, and restoration to snag genuine vintage value.
A 19-year-old Portland thrift reseller paid $3.07 for a Goodwill jacket later photomatched by Sotheby’s to Wilt Chamberlain, worn during the Lakers’ 1972 title run and NBA Finals; it sold at auction for about $89,600.
A 19-year-old Oregon teen found a Wilt Chamberlain warmup jacket from the 1972 NBA Finals in a Goodwill bins for $3. Sotheby’s authenticated it and, after more than 45 bidders, a final bid of $89,600 won the jacket, earning a windfall the teen plans to save or invest after a Vietnam vacation.
A teenager found Wilt Chamberlain's Lakers jacket at a thrift store, and it sold for over $89,000 at auction, underscoring the strong market for iconic sports memorabilia.
A commemorative PS5 launch plaque from the now-shuttered Firewalk Games' Concord project has been donated to Goodwill and is currently auctioning for $453, with proceeds going to charity, reflecting a bittersweet farewell to a failed game launch.
A vase purchased for $4 at a Goodwill thrift store in Virginia has sold at auction in New York for $107,100. The vase, designed by Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa in the 1940s, is a rare example of Murano glass and part of a series called "Pennellate." Glass consultants confirmed its authenticity, and the vase exceeded its estimated auction price. The buyer plans to use the proceeds to renovate a farmhouse. Experts note that finding such valuable items in thrift stores is extremely rare due to the prevalence of fake copies.
Jessica Vincent purchased a colorful vase for $3.99 at a Goodwill store in Virginia. After researching its origins, she discovered it was a rare Murano glass piece designed by Carlo Scarpa. The vase sold at auction for $107,100, with Vincent receiving about $83,500. She plans to use the money to install an HVAC system in her farmhouse. Vincent hopes the vase will eventually be displayed in a museum.
Jessica Vincent purchased a colorful vase for $3.99 at a Goodwill store in Virginia. After researching its origins, she discovered it was a rare Murano glass piece designed by Carlo Scarpa and produced by Venini in 1942. The vase, part of a limited collection called Pennellate, was sold at auction for $107,100. Vincent, who had always dreamed of finding a valuable item, plans to use the money to improve her farmhouse and hopes the vase will eventually be displayed in a museum.
A woman purchased a green and burgundy striped vase for $3.99 at a Goodwill store in Virginia, suspecting it was made in Murano, Italy. After researching, she discovered it was an ultrarare piece from renowned Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa's "Pennellate" series. The vase was sold at auction for $107,100 to a private art collector in Europe. The unexpected windfall of $82,875 will be used to repair an old farmhouse. This is not the first time a valuable item has been found at a thrift store, as a similar incident occurred when a woman bought a $4 painting that turned out to be an N.C. Wyeth illustration.
A woman purchased an iridescent glass vase for $3.99 at a Goodwill thrift store in Virginia, only to discover it was designed by renowned Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. After researching its value, she contacted Wright Auction House, which auctioned the vase for $107,100 to an unidentified private art collector in Europe. Specialists determined it was part of Scarpa's "Pennellate" series from the 1940s, and its pristine condition contributed to its high price. The woman, who has an eye for hidden treasures, plans to use the money to renovate her recently purchased farmhouse.
A vase purchased for $3.99 at a thrift store in Richmond, Virginia, has sold for over $107,000. The bottle-shaped vase, made of high-end Murano glass from Italy's Venini, was initially valued between $30,000 and $50,000. The buyer, described as an esteemed collector, remains anonymous.
A rare Nintendo 64 game, Clay Fighter: Sculptors Cut, which is considered the crown jewel of the console's library, was found at a thrift store with a price tag of $14.99. The game, typically valued at over $1,000, is a Blockbuster rental exclusive version and is highly sought after by collectors. The authenticity of the game was confirmed, making this a valuable find for the lucky buyer.
An anthropologist browsing a thrift store in Florida discovered a real human skull on display in the Halloween section. The Lee County Sheriff's Office was notified and recovered the skull, which was believed to be human. The store owner stated that the skull was found in a storage unit purchased years ago. Further testing will be conducted by the medical examiner's office, but authorities have stated that the case is not suspicious.