Painting bought for $30 at an estate sale sold at auction…

Painting bought for $30 at an estate sale sold at auction for $1.35 million, it's by Gertrude Abercrombie

07.10.2026 14:49 HotInfo

A painting by American surrealist Gertrude Abercrombie (1909–1977), which a buyer bought this summer for $30 at an estate sale in Michigan, sold at auction on October 1 for $1,352,600. This is a new auction record for the artist and exceeded the original high estimate more than fivefold. 20 Minutes ↗

Key actors — tap for context

The buyer, who according to 20 Minutes was looking for vinyl records at the sale, noticed the painting in a dark corner and was drawn to the signature "Abercrombie" on the back. He later compared it to a catalog from an exhibition about the painter and realized what he had bought. Authenticity was confirmed by Susan Weininger, an expert on the painter's work. 20 Minutes ↗

The 1951 painting "Alderman Merriam's Shells" depicts nine shells on a surface and a tenth one levitating on a thread against a dark background. According to 20 Minutes, which cites CBS News, the painter gave it to Dr. John Reynolds in exchange for medical care, and his family kept it out of public view for 75 years. 20 Minutes ↗

The original estimate was $150,000 to $250,000. The sale is also reported by SRF, according to which the painting came from an estate sale in Michigan. SRF ↗

*Illustrative photo: Gertrude Abercrombie, Slaughterhouse Ruins at Aledo (Smithsonian American Art Museum). This is a different work by the artist, not the painting that was sold. Public domain (Wikimedia Commons).*