Woman Can’t Believe ‘Masterpiece’ She Finds in Thrift Store for $30

A visit to the local thrift store left one South Carolina woman speechless when she laid her eyes on an absolute “masterpiece” – and it was only $30.

Once the Christmas chaos was over, Amanda Lee Smith headed to her local secondhand store to see what treasures they had. Smith, of Greenville, South Carolina, told Newsweek that it’s “one of the best times of the year to thrift” because people start to clear out items they no longer want after the holidays.

Although it may have been one of her final thrift store visits of 2025, it turned out to be one of her best.

As she wandered around the home section, Smith spotted a gorgeous oil painting leant against the wall. It depicts a bowl of fruit beside a shining steel jug, and Smith knew instantly that she had to get it.

“There are some pieces that require you to imagine their potential, to picture how they might translate outside of the thrift store, and then there are pieces like this, which need very little thought,” Smith said. “Really, the only thought was yes (well that and making sure it was in my hands and paid for as quickly as I could).”

The painting, which came in a gold frame, is approximately 104 centimeters in height and 147 centimeters in width. Nonetheless, Smith loved how grand it looked and said its large size gives the painting “a real sense of presence.”

As the founder of Blush and Brass Co., Smith is no stranger to thrifting and curating the perfect home décor. Through her work, she finds secondhand items to cultivate what she has dubbed “an ESO home,” one that is elevated, sustainable and obtainable.

There was no hesitation about buying the oil painting and Smith instantly went to pay for it. It appears to be in almost perfect condition, and at just $30, it was an absolute bargain.

“The condition was what surprised me most. It’s rare to see the fabric liner intact at a thrift store, especially one this light in color,” Smith said.

While it’s unclear how old the painting is, Smith estimates that it was likely created between the 1960s and the 1980s. That being said, given its large scale, frame and pristine condition, she told Newsweek that it could be valued “between $1,200 and $2,800.”

Smith shared her incredible discovery on TikTok (@mandaleesmith) and it stunned the internet. In just a matter of days the video has gone viral with over 65,300 views and more than 2,300 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.

Social media users were fascinated by how Smith would style the painting in her home. Fortunately for them, she followed up with more clips to show where it was placed and how it completed the room.

Getting the painting home was perhaps the most challenging part. Smith had to lie her seats flat and maneuver her purchase into the back of her SUV. She joked that it wasn’t the most comfortable ride home, but it was certainly worth it.

Now, the painting is hanging proudly in Smith’s dining room, and she couldn’t be happier with it.

“I knew exactly where it was going the moment I saw it,” Smith said. “I was in the process of redesigning my dining room a few days prior and had just removed a gallery wall and added a piece of furniture, which left a stretch of negative space that turned out to be the perfect size for this painting.

She continued: “It really anchors the room. The scale is large enough that it reads as more architectural than decorative, and while I do love a collected look, that sense of structure is ultimately what I was going for.”

The online response has been overwhelmingly positive, as Smith hopes to show just how far antique pieces can go to create a home that feels elevated, sustainable, and obtainable.

Social media users can’t get enough of this “masterpiece” that Smith thrifted, leading to more than 240 comments on the viral TikTok video already.

One comment reads: “I love it! The frame alone looks amazing!”

Another TikTok user wrote: “That painting is gorg!! Put it anywhere. There are no rules.”

While one person replied: “What an awesome SCORE!”

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