A Chair Purchased for Just $50 on Facebook Marketplace Turned Out to Be an Antique Worth $85,000

If you enjoy shopping secondhand—for clothes, furniture, or home décor—one of the resources you likely utilize is Facebook Marketplace. The next time you browse the digital re-sale destination, keep your eyes peeled for rare gems: One user got the shock of a lifetime when a chair they purchased for $50 turned out to be a collector's item worth $85,000.

In February, interior design expert Justin Miller found a chair on Facebook Marketplace that he believed could be of value. "I am not a furniture expert by any means," he said in a viral TikTok post shared by Apartment Therapy. "But I have a good eye and I can tell when something's really unique."

After seeing the listing, Miller did some initial research into the chair. He found that the rare piece was actually designed in 1935 by Frits Henningsen and similar models had been sold for upwards of $223,000. To add to the antique's value, only 50 of the chairs were ever manufactured.

Although the iteration listed on Facebook Marketplace had some wear and tear, Miller believed he could earn a couple thousand dollars for it after having it restored. "I've made some good Marketplace finds, but this is my best to-date," he said in the video.

Miller purchased the chair from a home in Beverly Hills (after disclosing its value to the owners, who were happy to pass it on) and shortly after, contacted Sotheby's to inquire about possibly putting his new gem up for auction. The auction house responded, noting that the chair was a superb model, even with the torn leather.

Ultimately, Sotheby's decided to bring the antique to auction after gently restoring some of the tears. The model went up for sale on June 7 and sold for $85,000—more than $35,000 over its estimated value.