Thursday, March 21, 2013

THE MILLION DOLLAR HUNT


Have you ever purchased something at a yard sale, garage sale, or Estate sale that turned out to  be valued at far more than the price you paid for it? That's part of the fun of the hunt, isn't it? Hoping you can find some rare and expensive treasure for which you paid a  mere pittance!



CNN told the story of a woman who purchased this bowl at a yard sale for $3. She kept it in her living room for a few years and eventually decided to see what it might be worth. She discovered it was a rare 1,000 year old bowl from China and took it to Sotheby's. It  sold at auction for $2.2 million!  Now why can't I find something like that?

It's these kinds of stories that keep me hunting for treasure. Well, that and a few gazillion other reasons. I DID get excited to find THIS little guy at a yard sale:



He looked like a piece of Black Folk Art and it was unique so I scooped him up. I decided to look it up and see what it actually was used for and found the exact thing selling at an Antique Shop in New York for $1,000! Not exactly $2.2 million but I got excited! So I took it to a friend who is an antique dealer in town. Unfortunately he said I had a reproduction of an original folk art piece. It was used for cigarette butts and  the little ring would hold a  bucket of sand in which to put out cigarettes. I decided to keep him and I found a tin bucket to fit in the ring which I painted with chalk paint and then wrote "KEYS" on the bucket in chalk. He now sits by our front door and we keep our car keys in the bucket. I did share about this guy in another post but he fit into this story also.

On another occasion I was heading into a garage sale and a friend who is a savvy antique dealer was coming out with his arms full of treasures. I said, " Guess I might as well turn right around. It looks like you got all the good stuff!" But  I went in anyway. It looked like he actually DID get all the good stuff. But then under a table, laying there with no tag on it was this vintage  advertising metal container. I picked it up and asked if it was for sale. The guy said, " I forgot about that. Oh, just give me a buck for it." I love metal containers but with advertising and being vintage made it a GIANT SCORE for me. I couldn't sell this one either!
So I keep on with the hunt, hoping to find a million dollar treasure but still getting excited when I find something for 25 cents that's worth $25!

I know there are many of you out there who buy and sell treasures so of course, you have to find some bargains. But have you ever found a treasure that is worth far more than what you paid for it? I'm still looking for mine!

I'm linking up with Katherine's Corner Blog Hop

18 comments:

  1. I have been hearing about this on the news and FB. No, I haven't been that lucky but I'll keep looking for that find.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good luck with your hunt, Sylvia! Have a great day! ; )

      Delete
  2. I don't have any great success stories but I have a few sad ones regarding antiques. Everyone breaks things too - right? Well, when I was a little girl in the 50's we would drive from Virginia to Florida on Route 17 and the Indians sold pottery on the side of the highway. My Mom bought my brother and I each a large Indian pot. I kept mine for sentimental reasons all those years but in l987 when we moved to Spring, Texas it was one of 2 things that got broken in the trip. I should have just glued it back together as it still had value but it wasn't real "Victorian" which was what I loved at the time.
    Next door to me in Old Colorado City where my shop is - are Indian Pottery experts. They told me IF IF STILL HAD IT - which I don't - it would be worth several thousand dollars.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't you just hate when that happens? I have a few deals lost also! I think everybody probably has some of those same sad stories! Keep looking and have a great day!

      Delete
  3. I've never made 'the big score' unfortunately. Thanks to all these antique roadshows, picker and storage locker shows, people are becoming very savvy about the value of things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But there are still some people out there who just like to get rid of stuff without checking so don't give up! : ) Have a great day, JoJo!

      Delete
  4. Wow emagine being that lucky :-)! My biggest bargain was a Figurine in Royal Danish Porcelain, payed the equivalent of a few cents and found the exact figurine on sale on ebay for 200 dollars. Otherwize l'm not very lucky, but l have great fun :-). Pam xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, THAT was a SCORE! And you're right! It's still fun even if you don't find that million dollar treasure! Have a great day!

      Delete
  5. I would lose my shirt AND my shoes if I tried to find something to buy that was worth more than I paid. I don't know anything about buying and selling.

    My daughter has a Barbie collection that we hope some day will be worth something. All are new and in the box. Some of the boxes are coming apart though just because the glue is finally giving way. We have some that were originally over $300 because they were limited number and designer series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was at an auction a few months ago and people were paying hundreds of dollars for old Barbies. And I got rid of mine years ago at a garage sale for pennies! And they were in great condition! I even had the original Barbie! Oh well! You better keep those Barbies! Have a great day!

      Delete
  6. Love those wire baskets - I would have scooped them up as well. I'm always at garage sales looking for treasures, but I end up with junk. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, well, you never know...some day your "junk" could turn out to be valuable! Keep hunting and have a great day!

      Delete
  7. I saw that last night and was so surprised! I haven't found my pot/bowl of gold, yet!
    It's the thrill of the hunt!
    Deb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right about the thrill of the hunt! You'll find your pot of gold yet!

      Delete
  8. You know I love to shop at my thrift stores here in Florida. I'm sure I pass up things that are worth more than what I buy. I don't resale so I just buy what I like. I see some amazing things here though! And it's FUN! Sweet hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Buying what you like is the best way! Have fun shopping! And have a great day!; )

      Delete
  9. good luck on your bargain hunt - I hope you find a hidden gem one ay SOON!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Sandy,
    Well I guess you just hit the reason on the head...we are all looking for that one in a million piece.
    Never has happened to me, not even anything worth much more than I paid for it...lol
    But it's the thrill of the hunt I guess.
    Love the folk piece for your keys...nice use of it.
    Karen

    ReplyDelete