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Woman shocked to learn $125 painting she bought on Facebook Marketplace could be worth enormous amount
A woman who thought about returning 'a dream art piece' was shocked after discovering its potential worth.
Christie Grace revealed in a June 7 TikTok video that a $125 painting she bought on Facebook Marketplace could be worth thousands of dollars.
This revelation came less than a week after she posted a video on TikTok asking viewers if she should return the art piece due to its enormous size.
According to the TikToker, she looked up the artist, Helmut Koller, and found that his paintings could be sold online for price tag between $50,000 and $200,000.
'She didn't mention anything about the artist. I assume she didn't know anything about the artist,' Grace said about the Facebook seller in her June 7 video.
Christie Grace revealed in a June 7 TikTok video that a $125 painting she bought on Facebook Marketplace could be worth thousands of dollars
Grace was looking to purchase big prints for her living room that were 'affordable and unique.'
Artwork that centered around tigers popped up on Etsy and Facebook Marketplace, which led her to find the painting that Grace called 'an incredible piece.'
The TikTok user was 'shaking' with shock the next day after she researched the artist and discovered how much his artwork usually sells for.
Grace explained that the woman she bought the painting from likely had no idea about how much the artwork was worth.
'The girl I bought this from on Facebook Marketplace said she bought this painting and a number of other ones at some random estate sale and was holding on to them for awhile,' said Grace.
'She just pointed out that there are some disgusting things on the painting, so I definitely need to look into how I can preserve it better.'
Grace went back to Koller's website to look for similar paintings and two acrylic on canvases that are similar to her piece were worth $66,000 and $140,000.
The TikToker added that she will also need to get her painting 'appraised and authenticated' and pleaded with her viewers with art experience to help.
'If anyone has experience in trying to figure out how much art is worth... I would definitely appreciate it,' she said.
Grace was looking to purchase big prints for her living room that were 'affordable and unique' when she found the artwork on Facebook Marketplace
Grace looked up the artist, Helmut Koller, and found that his paintings could sell online anywhere between $50,000 and $200,000
Grace posted a video update on June 8, and revealed that she contacted Koller and has been 'emailing back and forth.'
She then contacted the seller from Facebook Marketplace in order to get more information on the artwork.
'There's nothing else I can say at this point, but I will update you guys as soon as I get something definitive that I am ready to share,' said Grace.
'But I just want to say thank you so much to all the people who've reached out and offered to help... I love the side of TikTok that genuinely wants people to succeed.'
The large canvas artwork that Grace purchased is currently unavailable to purchase on Koller's artwork archive on his website.
However, similar tiger paintings, along with those of insects, giraffes and lions are available for anyone who wishes to purchase an authenticated Koller piece.
There are also at least five pieces of artwork created by Koller available to purchase on his artwork archive that are only worth $36,000 to $45,000.
Grace went back to Koller's website to look for similar paintings and found an acrylic on canvas painting called Leopard in Teal & Yellow that's worth $140,000
Koller's artwork has been featured in several galleries, but he also owns six galleries - four in the U.S. and two in Europe
Koller was born in 1954 and is an Austrian-born artist who is known for his colorful and festive paintings of animals, according to Fritz Gallery.
The animals he's painted were hail from four continents, including Europe and Africa.
He became a photographer for the Vienna State Opera in 1974 and photographed stars such as Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo for seven years.
Koller wrote multiple books in the 1980s, including OPERA LIVE- The Vienna State Opera, and released his first collection of paintings in 1987.
The growing legend gave up photography to focus on becoming a professional artist in 1988, and he has released multiple art collections ever since.
Koller currently lives and works in Palm Beach, Florida, and Vienna, Austria, and has galleries in four states: California, Colorado, Connecticut and Florida.
He also has two European galleries in Italy and Germany.
Like Grace, other TikTokers may not have been aware of the artist, but they did suggest that the owner of the artwork not sell it.
Koller became a photographer for the Vienna State Opera in 1974 and photographed stars such as Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo for seven years
'Everything needs to work around the Tiger... Lose the shelf,' a TikToker wrote in her first video's comment section on June 11.
Other TikTok users who commented on Grace's second video were excited and also advised her on what to do regarding the artwork's appraisal.
'You can get multiple appraisals if you’re worried about being lowballed,' a commenter wrote.
'Take photos of brush strokes and details and email the artist's website. They at least can tell you if they did prints.'
Another person wrote: 'I love that you bought it because you loved it and not for the potential resale value. The commodification of art has diminished true appreciation.'