A Painting Picked Up for 5,000 Won... Famous Illustrator's Work Worth 300 Million Won

American Antique Enthusiast Buys at Secondhand Store
Posts on Facebook, Discovers Painting Identity
Famous Illustrator 'N.C Wires' Artwork

A story that will intrigue antique enthusiasts has been shared. An American antique lover who bought a painting for just 5,000 won six years ago has discovered that it is actually worth 300 million won, attracting attention.

According to CNN and others on the 30th (local time), in 2017, an antique enthusiast named A was looking for a frame to recycle at a secondhand store in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA, when a painting caught their eye.

[Image source=Bonhams official website capture]

A purchased this old painting for 4 dollars (about 5,300 won). There was a signature on one side of the painting that read 'N.C Wires,' but no significant information could be found online. A did not think much of the painting and hung it in the bedroom, later storing it in a closet for a long time.

The identity of the painting was unexpectedly revealed. In May of this year, six years later, while cleaning, A found the painting and posted photos of the frame and painting on the Facebook page 'Things Found in Walls.'

This page is a community that shares stories about things found in walls, backyards, or abandoned houses across from grandma’s house. It welcomes all interesting and on-topic stories, encouraging fun and eccentricity.

After A posted the entry, one day a comment about the painting appeared. Six years later, A finally learned who 'N.C Wires' was. They got in touch with Lauren Lewis, a former curator who had worked with the Wires family.

Illustration of Coca-Cola's 50th anniversary calendar drawn by N.C Wires.
[Image source: Screenshot from Coca-Cola official website]

It turned out that this painting was the work of N.C Wires, the father of Andrew Wyeth, one of America’s leading photorealist painters, and an illustrator. Andrew Wyeth was the first American painter to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963 and was the first living artist to hold an exhibition at the White House, making him a famous figure in the art world.

Although relatively less known compared to his son, N.C Wires also gained fame as an illustrator. He created around 3,000 illustrations throughout his life, including artwork for Coca-Cola’s 50th anniversary calendar in 1936. He is also known as a figure greatly respected by Walt Disney.

British auction house Bonhams has been commissioned by A to put this painting up for auction in September. The winning bid is expected to reach between 150,000 and 250,000 dollars (approximately 200 million to 330 million won).

Lauren Lewis, the former curator who identified the painting, said, "After seeing the work in person, I am 99% confident it is authentic," emphasizing, "Although there were minor blemishes, considering that no one had recognized the painting’s value until now, it was in remarkably good condition."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.