Tales of a Texas Masterpiece & The Return of a Mayan Artifact

Lost Texas Masterpiece Auctioned After Near Goodwill Donation

A painting nearly donated to Goodwill turned out to be a masterpiece by Julian Onderdonk, known as "the father of Texas painting," and sold at a Dallas auction. The artwork, depicting Texas bluebonnets, had been a family heirloom since 1922 but was almost discarded when its owner moved to the West Coast. The original owner's daughter kept the painting, unaware of its value, until the family recently discovered its true origin and decided to auction it. Two other Onderdonk paintings also sold for over $90,000 each at the same auction, highlighting his legacy in Texas art.

Thrifter Discovers Hidden Gem: Luxury Vase Goes Unrecognized

A thrifter stumbled upon a unique vase at a local thrift store, initially unaware of its high-end value. The vase, resembling a design from Dutch brand POLSPOTTEN, was found on a top shelf and caught the eye of TikTok user @silverlinedesign, who specializes in reselling vintage items. Though unsure if it's an authentic POLSPOTTEN piece, its resemblance to their coral reef vases, which sell for up to $1,200, is striking. She decided to keep it and showcased it beautifully with individual flower stems in each mini vase.

Thrift Store Vase Turned Out to Be Genuine Mayan Artifact

Anna Lee Dozier bought a vase for $3.99 at a thrift store in Clinton, Maryland, five years ago, believing it was a replica. While visiting Mexico City's National Museum of Anthropology, she realized the vase closely resembled genuine Mayan pottery and sought authentication. Confirmed as a genuine artifact dating from 200 to 800 CE, Dozier returned it to Mexico with the help of authorities and the Mexican embassy. The vase is now headed to the Museum of Anthropology after a ceremony, and Dozier expressed satisfaction in returning it to its rightful place rather than selling it.