I have always like visiting flea markets and searching through vintage items that folks have thrown away in the hopes of discovering a hidden treasure. My grandmother was told that they were similar to “preloved jewels,” and I inherited her passion for hunting.
My hubby Sam would frequently make fun of my “junk collection” since he didn’t understand why I was fascinated. He was unaware that everything will change as a result of my most recent discoveries.
It was at a street fair in my town that I discovered a small, basic porcelain egg. The seller was reduced from $25 to $10 by me. Sam stated it was a waste of money and laughed at what I had purchased.
With a giggle, he questioned, “What’s the point of that?” I noticed something in that egg that he did not.
When I shook the egg, we discovered a tiny roll of red silk that contained a stunning pair of earrings. We initially believed them to be false, but after seeing them examined by a jeweler, we discovered they were Art Deco pieces composed of 18k white gold, diamonds, and emeralds. An estimate of the amount? a startling $300,000 that brought $3 million at auction later.
As a result, Sam and I started going to flea markets together and became friends with fellow treasure seekers. He now understands the delight of the chase and the significance of discovering something novel. Our narrative demonstrates how sharing interests with others can produce unexpected discoveries and how what one person considers garbage can become treasure for another.
I’m reminded as we carry on with our treasure hunt that the greatest discoveries don’t always originate from the most unlikely locations. Who knows, perhaps one day we’ll locate that Van Gogh. I’m excited to see what more hidden treasures we come across while searching.
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