1. Renaissance Rarity—€24M ($27 Million) for Art Discovered Over Stove in French Kitchen

📰 📅 2019 Report: In Compiègne, France, a rare early Renaissance painting by Cimabue was discovered hanging above the stove in an elderly woman’s 1960s kitchen. Mistaken for a Russian icon and nearly discarded during a house clearance, the artwork sold for over €24 million (approx. $27 million USD), setting a record for a medieval painting. Full story and image ☟

Story and image: 🔗 The Guardian

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2. Ming Marvel—$20 Million for Rare Jar Used as Umbrella Stand

📽️ 📅 2016 Report: A Ming Dynasty dragon jar—once casually used as an umbrella stand—sold for $20.4 million at auction. Discovered in a private home, specialists identified it as a rare and valuable piece of Chinese porcelain. Full story in a three-minute video.

Video: 🔗 Christie's / YouTube

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3. Klimt Comeback—$16 Million for Lost 1897 Portrait Brought to Vienna Gallery

📰 📅 2025 Report: In Austria, a dusty old painting brought into a Vienna gallery was identified as Gustav Klimt’s lost 1897 portrait of African prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona. Once part of a private collection since the 1950s, the artwork had originally been auctioned in 1923. Now verified, it was expected to sell for over $16 million. The discovery was made after the owners casually presented a photo for review.

Story and images: 🔗 Smithsonian Magazine

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4. Antique Elegance—£14.7 Million ($18.7 Million) for Rare Vases Found on Mantle

📰 📽️ 📅 2017 Report: In the UK, a pair of overlooked 18th-century Qianlong vases on a mantelpiece fetched an astonishing £14.7 million ($18.7 million in 2023 rates). Inherited and undervalued, these rare vases hold significant historical and artistic value.

Story, images, and video: 🔗 Christie's

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5. Madonna Masterpiece—$15.2 Million for Misattributed Metsys Painting Found in London Archive

📰 📅 2024 Report: In a stunning revelation, a panel painting by Quentin Metsys, 'The Madonna of the Cherries,' which initially sold for just $391,357 in 2015, is now poised to fetch up to $15.2 million at Christie’s London. Rediscovered after being previously misattributed due to heavy restoration, this painting is now recognized as a significant work.

Story and images: 🔗 artnet

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6. Hospital Wall Treasure—$13.8 Million for Overlooked Indian Mural

📰 📅 2025 Report: In Oslo, Norway, a 1954 Indian mural by MF Husain, originally purchased for $295 and displayed for decades on a hospital wall, sold for $13.8 million at a New York auction. The rare 14-foot oil painting, considered a masterpiece of modern Indian art, was rediscovered after being overlooked for nearly 50 years.

Story and images: 🔗 BBC

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7. Masterpiece Marvel—Tens of Millions for 400-Year-Old Painting Found Hidden in Plain Sight

📰 📅 2024 Report: A painting by Sir Paul Rubens, depicting George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham and thought lost for 400 years, was discovered in Glasgow's Pollok House. Initially believed to be a mere reproduction, meticulous restoration revealed its authenticity. Acquired in the late 19th century, it is now deemed priceless, with an estimated monetary value in the tens of millions. The portrait, part of the Stirling Maxwell Collection, hung unrecognized until its true value was confirmed.

Story and images: 🔗 Glasgow World

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8. TV Stand Treasure—£6.3M ($8 Million) for 17th-Century Chest Found in Estate

📰 📅 2013 Report: In the UK, a rare 17th-century Japanese lacquered chest—discovered during an estate house clearance and once used as a TV stand—sold for £6.3M (approximately $8 million based on 2024 rates) at auction. Purchased for £100 (about $127) in 1970, the chest, sought by museums, is one of only 10 worldwide. Made by Kaomi Nagashige, its rarity and intricate artistry amazed experts.

Story and images: 🔗 Daily Mail

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9. Ming Marvel—£3.17M ($4.1 Million) for Rare 1425 Cup Found in UK University Cabinet

📰 📽️ 📅 2016 Report: A 15th-century Ming dynasty cup, originally donated to Staffordshire University in the UK during WWII, sold at auction in Hong Kong for £3.17 million (approx. $4.1 million USD). Once stored in an unlocked, dusty cabinet and forgotten for decades, the priceless treasure was rediscovered and revalued. Believed to have been made for an emperor, it is considered extremely rare.

Story, images, and video: 🔗 BBC

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10. Historic Hockey Stick—$3.5 Million for Iconic Sports Equipment Hidden in Plain Sight

📰 📅 2020 Report: In Vermont, USA, a hockey stick—believed to be 170 years old—was discovered in a grandmother's house, where it had been repurposed as an umbrella stand. Appraised at $3.5 million for its rarity, it was possibly the oldest existing hockey stick at the time.

Story and images: 🔗 NBC Sports

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11. Bust Bonanza—$3 Million for $6 Sculpture Propping Shed Door in Scotland

📰 📅 2024 Report: An 18th-century marble bust by French sculptor Edmé Bouchardon was discovered propping open a shed door in an industrial park in Invergordon, Scotland. Originally purchased for just £5 ($6), this rare treasure could now fetch over $3 million at auction. The Highland Council recently decided to sell it to fund local projects.

Story and image: 🔗 People

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12. Hidden Masterpiece—$2 Million for Diego Rivera Artwork Uncovered Behind Door

📰 📽️ 📅 2018 Report: A 1904 Diego Rivera oil painting, El Albañil, bought in Mexico and missing since 1930, resurfaced at a PBS Antiques Roadshow in Texas. The owner revealed that it had been hanging behind a door in a family home. Valued at up to $2.2 million, this rare piece highlights Rivera's early mural style. 

Story, images, and video: 🔗 PBS Antiques Roadshow

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13. Stern Stunner—$1.3 Million for Painting Found Behind Postcards in London Kitchen

📰 📅 2015 Report: Irma Stern's priceless painting, 'Arab in Black,' which played a crucial role in funding Nelson Mandela's legal defense, was discovered hidden behind postcards and bills in a London kitchen. This extraordinary find later sold for $1.3 million at auction.

Story and images: 🔗 artnet

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14. Amber Treasure—€1 Million ($1.1 Million) Value for Doorstop Discovery

📰 📅 2024 Report: In Colti, Romania, an elderly woman unknowingly used a 7.7-lb amber nugget, valued at €1 million ($1.1 million), as a doorstop for decades. Originally found in a stream, this rare amber piece, one of the world's largest, was later identified as a national treasure.

Story and images: 🔗 EL PAIS

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These inspiring discoveries reveal the untapped potential of everyday spaces as hidden treasure troves. Explore the top 40 finds below the ad ☟

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