He paid $30 for a painting at a Michigan estate sale. It sold for $1.35 million
He paid $30 for a painting. It just sold for $1.35m
A collector attending a Michigan estate sale, seeking vintage furniture and other treasures, encountered an unexpected find: an 8-by-11-inch painting featuring nine seashells against a dark background. The signature "abercrombie ’51" sparked his interest, prompting thorough research to authenticate the work. Eventually, he learned the painting was created by Gertrude Abercrombie, an American surrealist artist.
An 1952 Chicago Tribune photograph in the exhibition catalogue provided the final evidence, confirming the painting's remarkable history. The painting, originally owned by Robert Merriam, an alderman from Hyde Park, Chicago, had been in the family for nearly 75 years before its rediscovery. After being estimated to sell for $150,000 to $250,000, the painting sold at Freeman’s Auctions for $1,352,600, setting a new auction record for an Abercrombie piece.
This serendipitous transaction, beginning at $30, resulted in a $1.35 million masterpiece for the collector.
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