Woman who bought P220 vase in thrift shop sells it for P5.9 million at an auction
A woman who bought a $3.99 (P220) vase from a thrift store in Virginia apparently possessed a rare piece, selling it at an auction for $107,100 (P5.9 million).
The Associated Press reported that Jessica Vincent, a 43-year-old horse trainer, bought a vase that “was shaped like a bottle and had ribbons of color, aqua green and amethyst purple, that spiraled up its glass surface like stripes of paint” from Goodwill.
But little did Vincent know that her purchase, which has the words “Murano” and “Italia” on its base, wasn’t just one’s average item among the clutter of cups and china.
It’s produced by the renowned glass company Venini and designed by Carlo Scarpa, a top Italian architect in the mid-20th century. The vase was part of Scarpa’s 1942 series.
The “Murano” on the bottom, meanwhile, referred to the island in Venice that has been famous for its glasswork since the 13th century. It made ornate crystal chandeliers and mirror frames for most palaces of Europe’s aristocracy, AP reported.
After Vincent shared photos of the vase in Facebook groups for glass art, a commenter noted that what she has is “very rare,” and that “every collector would love to have that.”
She was then referred to the Wright Auction House in Chicago.
A top collector from Europe bought the vase.
Of the $107,100, the auction house will get $23,600 (P1.3 million), while Vincent will take home $83,500 (P4.6 million).
Vincent said the money she’d get would be used for the farmhouse she bought recently.
She’s also hoping for the vase to be displayed in a museum someday, AP reported.