I thrifted a $40 item and left it in my attic for years – I found its true worth after I recognized a signature clue
TREASURES worth hundreds of thousands of dollars may be hiding in your own home, as one man rediscovered a painting potentially worth millions in his attic.
Michael P. Wilson had purchased the painting years prior at a California thrift store, unaware of its true value.
Youtube/BeAmazedA man purchased an Andy Warhol painting for only $40[/caption]
GettyHe found it at a California thrift store and was unaware of its value[/caption]
GettyYears later, the painting was authenticated as an older Warhol piece[/caption]
The neutral-toned painting featured a young boy holding what appeared to be a bird cage.
The painting measures approximately 30 inches x 40 inches and appears to be in its original frame.
At the time of the purchase, Wilson was drawn to its unique characteristics, according to a press release.
However, he did not realize who the painter was.
He ultimately purchased the painting for low $40, according to YouTuber Be Amazed.
Years later, Wilson began to familiarize himself with the work of iconic modern artist Andy Warhol.
Wilson explained in the press release that after viewing certain works of art by Warhol, such as Gold Marilyn and newly released drawings from the 1950s, he began to investigate the true artist behind his painting.
He soon found that the signature and style of his piece appeared to match older works of Warhol.
Wilson ultimately took the painting to Fine Art Authenticator & Appraiser G.B. Tate to be authenticated.
G.B. Tate & Sons Fine Art, of Laramie, Wyoming, authenticated the painting as a Warhol in 2015.
“The subject artwork is typical of the artist and compares favorably in quality and subject matter with many other examples of the genre offered in the marketplace,” the appraisal document read, per the press release.
“All other factors, including technique, style and signature, are consistent with original works by the artist.”
The appraisal reportedly put the value of the painting as anywhere between $500,000 and $2.5 million, according to YouTuber Be Amazed.
While Wilson could have kept the high value painting in his own home, he decided to put it up for auction in 2016.
The auction began on November 7, 2016 and was hosted on eBay.
All proceeds from the auction were set to go to charity, with some of the funds going to City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute in Duarte, California.
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The sale was managed by Auction Cause.
“We expect this painting to become a prized exhibit in a museum, art collector’s home, or institution dedicated to the study of Warhol,” Eric Gazin, President of Auction Cause, said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear how much the Warhol painting sold for in the online auction or who ultimately made the purchase.
If you believe you have found a similar high value item in a thrifting bargain be sure to keep all available records related to the purchase.
Consider having the item appraised by a professional to determine its true value.
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