13. A unique Qing Dynasty vase is discovered in an attic
Location: Paris
Year Discovered : 2018
Est. Value: $19 million*
A beautiful, ornately-decorated porcelain vase was discovered by homeowners in France while sorting through the attic. The vase was unnoticed by the couple for many years. When they saw it again, they took it to Paris for an appraisal at Sotheby’s.
Sotheby’s found that the vase is an original Qing Dynasty work of art, and appraised it between $590,000 and $825,000. This hidden treasure was sold at auction for $19 million, far exceeding its original value. The piece had to be unique in order to sell for that amount.
14. Two brothers find $15M painting in wall
Location: Arlington, Vermont
Year Found: 2006.
Est. Value: $15.4 million*
In a postmortem investigation, two brothers went through the home of their deceased father and found something unexpected hidden in the walls. It was an original Norman Rockwell. This Rockwell was identical to the one that hung on the wall a few inches from it.
It turned out that the father of the brothers was trying to hide the expensive original from his former wife during a divorce. He put a convincing imitation of the original Rockwell on the wall and hid it. It hung there for many years, until the father died. This painting, entitled “Breaking Home Ties”, sold later at a Sotheby’s Auction for $15.4 Million.
