Full Breakdown
$30 Thrift Store Serigraph May Be Worth Up to $1,000
By Drooid · · How we work
The Find: $30 Purchase of a John Powell Serigraph
A thrift-store shopper identified a framed artwork that caught her eye because of its size and professional framing. The piece, later confirmed as *Enchanted Forest*, a serigraph by artist John Powell, was purchased for $30. Sara, who posts on Instagram as @thriftswithsara, shared in a September 23 video that she believes the work could be worth close to $1,000. She noted that the pencil signature and numbered edition signaled genuine value beyond the thrift-store price tag.
Artist John Powell and Limited-Edition Prints
John Powell, born in Hollywood, California, began painting at 16 and continued until shortly before his death in 2025 at age 94. His work is known for precise, colorful compositions that often reference gardens, pottery, and global art influences. *Enchanted Forest* is a serigraph—a screen-printing technique that forces ink through a fine mesh onto paper, with a stencil creating the image. The piece is described in online listings as a limited-edition printer’s proof, numbered and hand-signed by Powell.
Comparable Sales and Potential Value
Marketplace data show that a similar edition listed on eBay is priced at $625, while another edition sold on iCollector for $425 in 2025. These figures provide a benchmark for estimating the thrift-store find’s market value, supporting Sara’s estimate that the artwork could approach $1,000.
Sara’s Motivation and Remarks
Sara emphasized that she bought the piece for personal enjoyment rather than resale. She explained that the artwork now occupies a permanent spot in her home, aligning with her interest in objects that carry a story.
Verbatim Quote
“I just think it's always cool to have things with stories in my home,” — Sara