It has become commonplace in Joe Biden’s America to thrift shop to stretch a dollar already stretched to the breaking point. Goodwill has become a popular shopping place for folks needing cheap housewares, clothing, and bedding. It isn’t ideal, but for Americans struggling with Bidenomics, it sometimes is the only option.
Many savvy shoppers scour thrift shops for overlooked treasures and antiques. It isn’t common to find a treasure for cheap in a bargain bin, but when it happens, it is a thrill and sometimes life-changing. For one Virginia woman, she learned recently that there is indeed a Santa Claus, and he hangs out at Goodwill. A Virginia horse trainer named Jessica Vincent spent under four dollars at a local Goodwill and made a life-changing find in the glassware section.
Vincent was shopping at the local Goodwill when she stumbled across a unique, beautiful vase that called her name. As she was searching the housewares section, looking for items to fill her newly purchased rustic farmhouse, Vincent spied a blown glass vase that she instantly fell in love with. She said: “I picked it up and I could tell that it was blown glass, and it just had a beautiful iridescence. When I got close to it, I knew it was coming home with me.”
Vincent expected to pay more than the $3.99 that Goodwill was asking, and even though the vase had “Murano” and “Italia” stamped on it, she still wasn’t aware of what she had. From there, perhaps suspecting she may have something special, Vincent posted her find on a private Facebook group for Murano Glass. What she discovered gave her chills. One Facebook user said: “Those are very rare. Every collector would love to have that. But most people cannot afford them.”
She was then referred to an auction house in Chicago, and after they discovered what she was in possession of, they requested a call to make a deal. Vincent continued: “I figured when the CEO of the auction house wants to have a phone call with you it’s probably pretty special. And he was just telling me how incredibly rare these are and the color that this was in and the form that it was in. I think they only know of one other one in these colors.”
The piece eventually sold on December 15th for $107,000 dollars. Vincent netted $83,000 after fees and compared the find to winning the lottery. She said: “It was the thrifters equivalent of winning the lottery. I read about these things all the time but I thought, ‘Could I have really just bought a masterpiece at Goodwill?’” Indeed, she did, and the resulting proceeds will go to good use.
The lucky horse trainer had recently purchased a rustic farmhouse with no heat, in need of renovation. She concluded: “I was stressed having it at my little 1930s farmhouse. And I just bought the farm and everything needs to be fixed. I don’t even have heat. I feel like I saved the vase and the vase saved me.” It was a fortuitous find for a young woman in need, and she was more than happy to flip the rare piece in order to fund the renovation of her new home. For Jessica Vincent, Santa is real, and she will now have heat in her house for the new year.
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