Some people have all the luck. But, most of the time luck isn’t just luck. You have to be working pretty hard and know exactly what you’re looking for when the good stuff finally comes to you.
That’s what happened to Kristy Lee. Although she thrifts for a hobby, she lucked out one day while thrifting. Her husband had asked her to stop buying so much random stuff but she couldn’t help herself. Without even realizing she found some pretty special bowls.
She didn’t even spend that much money.
She says she paid 5 dollars for 4 bowls. Three of these bowls were part of the same set.
After trying to find more bowls by the same designer, she decided to call in reinforcements. She went on her favorite Facebook group, a group called “Unusual and Antique Items” to see if someone could help her find this designer. Within two minutes of posting to ask for help, someone in the group got back to her with some answers.
She quickly learned how special her items were.
First, although the bowls had been etched with the artists initials, she couldn’t figure out who they were by. She found out they were made by an artist named Kenneth Edwards. Kenneth Edwards is an artist who makes tons of beautiful pottery.
While Kenneth Edwards is a prolific potter, the style that he works with these days is vastly different from the style that he started out with. While much of his work today is influenced by his education in Japan, his earlier pieces are influenced by his time living in Mexico. The bowls that Kristy had found were an earlier style, more close to Mexican pottery, made in 1991.
And one of these bowls was extra special.
And extra valuable. After doing some more research, Kristy found a listing for her specific bowls. And she was shocked by how much one of her bowls cost.
One of the bowls that she had gotten for $5 for four, originally cost $425.
Kristy was shocked and delighted.
She was not expecting those kinds of prices for her little bowls she got at a thrift store. And the the $425 was only the price of her medium sized bowl. Now, she’s thinking, how much does her large bowl cost?
While she can’t find any information on the price of the big bowl, she’s hoping that it will be more valuable. I mean, it’s a bigger bowl, so it should come with bigger money.
Kristy has no plans to sell, but she’s enjoying her discovery.
I know I definitely would like to surprisingly find out that my random thrift store find was secretly really valuable. Even if you don’t immediately try to sell it, it’s a cool fact. And Kristy agrees. She said:
“I was blown away when I saw that price–not that I’m trying to sell these or anything. I really like these and I’d like to hang on to them for a while, but I could not believe that.”
She has big plans to expand her research too. Kristy says that although she hasn’t had any luck yet, she’s going to keep looking for more information on her other bowls in the Kenneth Edwards Mexican Pottery set. She’s going to keep trying to find how much her full set is worth.
She’s taking this whole experience as a good sign.
“I’ve been told I have a good eye, but, maybe I actually do.”
Next, she’s going to try her luck with a different piece she found recently–a glass vase made in Italy that she thinks might be worth something.
Watch the video below to get some thrifting inspiration!
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