Never underestimate the value of a keen eye. This past February, 33-year-old Justin Miller spotted an interesting chair on Facebook Marketplace and took the plunge, buying it for $50. Amazingly, Miller’s fantastic find could be worth as much as $50,000 when it’s sold at Sotheby’s this June.

Here’s the story: Miller was helping a friend decorate his house when he eyed an impressive looking wingback chair online, photographed in a driveway of a Beverly Hills, California, home. Miller, who worked on Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network as a design producer, didn’t know anything about the chair, only that it looked interesting enough to take a flyer on.

Miller drove from Los Angeles to the swanky Beverly Hills home and left with a rare Frits Henningsen chair in the back of his truck. “I’m not a furniture expert by any means,” Miller said on a TikTok post. But I have a good eye and I can tell when something is really unique.”

Henningsen (1889–1965) was a Danish furniture designer and cabinet maker who achieved high standards of quality with exclusively handmade pieces. Sotheby’s will feature Miller’s marketplace find in its “Important Design” sale June 7. Sotheby’s estimates the chair to bring $30,000-$50,000.

Justin Miller with his Henningsen chair find on TikTok.

Justin Miller with his Henningsen chair find on TikTok. Photo: TikTok;@miztermiller

 

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