A €20 flea-market lamp sells for €251,000 after hidden signature is discovered

NewsWorld NewsEurope NewsA woman bought an unremarkable black lamp for just €20 at a French flea market; her daughter spotted a hidden signature and the rediscovered ceramic piece sold for €251,000 A woman bought an unremarkable black lamp for just €20 at a French flea market; her daughter spotted a hidden signature and the rediscovered ceramic piece sold for €251,000 Around 10 collectors competed fiercely for the rare ceramic lamp, driving its final auction price higher.

A forgotten object, hidden in a cupboard for months, turned out to be worth a small fortune, proving that extraordinary treasures can sometimes hide in the most ordinary places. A routine trip to a flea market in northern France has produced an extraordinary auction result after a family’s bargain find was identified as a rare work by a renowned French ceramic artist.

The black ceramic lamp, which cost just €20, sold for €251,000, a world auction record for a lamp by its maker. Scroll down to read the interesting story of a black lamp.A bargain purchase with an extraordinary story According to French news agency The Connexion, the black ceramic lamp was bought by the unidentified woman last year at a local brocante, the French term for a flea market selling second-hand and antique items.

At the time, little did anyone know that the unassuming piece was something rather valuable.The lamp was then placed in a cupboard in the buyer's home where it remained until her daughter discovered it during a house clear-out.

Looking more closely, there was an incised signature beneath its base, giving the name of the artist as Georges Jouve (1910–1964), one of the leading figures in post-war French ceramics, the report adds.Intrigued by the find, the daughter did her research on the artist and came across NEO Enchères, a Paris auction house familiar with Jouve’s work.

The family contacted its specialists and traveled to Paris to have their purchase examined, after learning that the auction house had previously sold a similar lamp, The Connexion claims.Authentication uncovers a rare collectible The auction house confirmed that the lamp was a genuine Jouve creation, and, crucially, had survived in remarkably good condition.

The Connexion reports that, as ceramic lighting pieces are particularly prone to damage over the years, preservation was key to its eventual value.The lamp’s rarity just made it more charming. While the precise number of units produced by Jouve is not known, the specific model is rarely encountered on the market.

NEO Enchères had sold just one other example in the previous two years, which had made €104,000. The newly-discovered piece was valued by specialists at €80,000 to €120,000 ahead of its auction that took place on October 29.The fierce competition causes the price to go up The lamp generated a lot of interest among collectors, with some 10 prospective buyers competing for it.

Bidders participated in person and by phone, a sign of the rare ceramic creation’s appeal. The Connexion report said that the contest finally came down to two European buyers, who kept raising their bids until one dropped out.

The final hammer price, including buyer’s fees, was €251,000, or about 12,000 times what the woman paid for it. The result set a world auction record for a lamp by Jouve, far beating the auction house’s expectations, the report adds.According to Quentin Charraudeau, president of NEO Enchères, they had a lot of collectors interested but the price went beyond what the thought.

Also, the sale highlighted the growing cachet of rare pieces by French post-war ceramic artists and designers.A reminder of some hidden treasures The spectacular sale has also renewed interest in Jouve’s artistic legacy and the market for collectible French ceramics.

NEO Enchères is currently looking for other ceramic works and lighting pieces by the artist, as well as creations by other French designers from the post-war period. The Connexion reports that the auction house offers free, confidential valuations from photographs, if anyone thinks they may have valuable items.Image Courtesy: NEO Enchères You use AI every day.

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