$30 op shop vase worth thousands : You never know what hidden treasures you might discover in a charity shop — and one woman got far more than she bargained for with a $30 purchase that turned out to be worth thousands.
In a Sydney-filmed episode of Antiques Roadshow — available to stream for free — an Australian guest brought a striking vase adorned with painted Highland cattle to expert John Sandon.
I actually found it in an op shop,” the woman explained, revealing she had paid just $30 for it.
$30 for a vase like this, really?” John responded, clearly astonished. “Did you have any idea what you were buying?”
Sydney Woman’s $30 Op Shop Buy Stuns Antiques Roadshow Experts | Rare Vase Worth $8000
Of course, she had no idea. As John explained, the vase was created by renowned ceramics artist Harry Stinton, and a code on the base confirmed it dated back to 1958.
By that time, Harry was a respected elder in the field,” John noted. “He was already in his 90s, yet still actively painting and producing these scenic pieces.
Woman’s $30 Charity Shop Find Turns Out to Be Worth Thousands
As his vision began to fade, his later creations adopted a more impressionistic style—he could no longer see the fine details as well. Personally, I believe those works are among his most stunning.
John mentioned that these vases were typically sold as a pair, and the guest confirmed she owned both—though the second had a small chip at the top and wasn’t in perfect condition.
Still, the minor flaw had little impact on their overall value.
Antiques Roadshow Expert Reveals Hidden Value of Rare Vase Pair
Two for just $30?! That’s almost criminal,” John laughed. “These are incredibly valuable nowadays.
So, what’s the actual worth?
With one having a small chip, the pair would still fetch around $7,000 to $8,000,” he revealed.
It’s no surprise the guest was stunned.
Ohhh, far out,” she exclaimed, covering her face in disbelief.
She had bought the vases simply because she was drawn to their gold detailing — but it turned out she’d struck gold in more ways than one.
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