The Economic Times

Bought for $30 at a Michigan estate sale, this forgotten painting sold for $1.35 million after a tiny signature revealed its secret

A small painting titled 'Alderman Merriams Shells' was sold at auction for $1.35 million. The anonymous buyer initially purchased it for just $30 at a Michigan estate sale. The painting features signature details that enabled its authentication as Gertrude Abercrombie's work. After significant research and conservation, its value soared beyond initial estimates. This remarkable sale illustrates the unpredictability of art market discoveries and growing interest in Abercrombie.