She might not need to stick to a budget going forward.
When a woman discovered that the necklace she had purchased at the thrift store for $2 was actually a $3,000 lost art piece, she was shocked.
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, earlier this summer, 23-year-old Jess Smith was shopping at her favorite thrift store and naturally made her way to the necklace section.
According to the young artist in a now-viral TikTok, she was perusing the collection when she noticed a “very large neon and translucent necklace” that drew her attention.
Smith looked at the ring and noticed a signature and the year 1973 written in the corner, but he couldn’t make out what the writing meant.
She decided to purchase the necklace and paid $2 for her antique find.
Smith remained enthralled by the peculiar object and finally used Google Lens’ reverse image search to discover the artist Aaronel deRoy Gruber, whose works remarkably resembled the strange necklace.
The employees at the Aaronel deRoy Gruber Foundation swiftly replied to the surprised customer’s call and invited her to bring the piece in and see some of the other artwork.
The late artist specialized in plexiglass works in the 1960s and 1970s and produced a variety of necklaces, each of which was distinctive.
When Smith met with the director of the charity, they were able to vouch for the veracity of her necklace and put a price tag of $3,000 on the colored jewelry.
“When I first saw this piece in the store, I thought it would just be something interesting to wear, but now that I know it’s a historical art piece,” she continued.
Smith had the option of selling it, but she chose to give it to the foundation on a special loan so that others might see the remarkable sculpture.
I don’t think I’ll ever sell it, she admitted.
Smith and the Aaronel deRoy Gruber Foundation did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post.