My husband once laughed at me for buying a tiny enameled egg at a flea market, but he was in for a huge surprise.
I’m a flea market junkie. There’s something thrilling about digging through piles of old stuff, hoping to find a hidden treasure. My passion started when I was eleven, spending summers with my grandmother in New England. We would explore every market and street fair within miles, hunting for what she called ‘preloved jewels.’
Even now, as a mother and grandmother, nothing excites me more than digging through bins of odds and ends, hoping to discover that one special item.
My husband, Sam, doesn’t quite understand it. He’s a wonderful man—kind and hardworking—but my love for treasure hunting in what he calls junk is something he’s never really gotten. It’s our one little disagreement. I might be tempted to give up my hobby to keep the peace, but the joy I get from those weekend flea market trips is something I’m not ready to let go.
Recently, Sam surprised me by asking if he could come with me on my next flea market adventure. I was curious about this sudden interest, so I eagerly agreed.
About a month ago, I went to a nearby town for its street fair on a crisp Saturday morning. My excitement was through the roof as I wandered among the stalls, and soon my instincts led me to a modest table where a man was selling all sorts of knickknacks.
Among the porcelain cups and bisque figurines, I spotted a small porcelain and enamel egg, about the size of a real egg. It wasn’t particularly eye-catching, but something about it drew me in.
“How much for the egg?” I asked the vendor, who was eyeing me closely, probably figuring out how much he could charge me.
“$25,” he said. “And it’s a steal!”
I pretended to be shocked. “$25 for that? I’ll give you $5.”
The vendor’s eyes widened in surprise. “Five dollars? This is a piece of history! It’s French porcelain!”
“Really?” I replied skeptically. “So if I flip it over, I won’t see ‘Made in China’ stamped on the bottom?”
The vendor hesitated, which was a giveaway. “Alright,” I said, “I’ll take it for $10, as is.”
He grumbled but wrapped the egg in newspaper and took my $10. I was thrilled with my find and headed home, my mind already racing with excitement.
When I walked in, I greeted Sam with a kiss. He was lounging on the sofa, reading his newspaper. “Hey, find any trash?” he asked, clearly not expecting much.
“Actually, yes!” I said with a grin, pulling the wrapped egg from my handbag and unwrapping it carefully.
Sam looked at it with doubt. “That’s it? That’s what you found?”
“Yes!” I replied, beaming. “Isn’t it lovely?”
“What’s it for?” he asked, examining the egg and noting the metal latch and hinges.
“I think it was a jewelry box,” I said, trying to open it. “But it seems to be stuck.”
“It’s probably rusted shut,” Sam said, flipping the egg over. “And look, it says ‘Made in Hong Kong.’ How much did you pay for it?”
Blushing, I admitted, “Ten dollars. The man wanted $25.”
Sam laughed derisively. “You got ripped off again!”
I felt a twinge of disappointment but shook the egg, noticing something shift inside. “There’s something in here!” I said, hopeful.
Sam mocked me. “Oh, I’m sure it’s a diamond,” he said, and then, with a twist of his fingers, he pried open the egg. Inside was a tiny bundle of red silk.
I carefully unwrapped the silk to reveal a pair of stunning earrings. They were beautiful—maybe fake, but gorgeous nonetheless.
Sam took a closer look. The clear center stone was surrounded by a halo of green gems. He breathed on it, and the stone stayed clear. “Jen,” he said, astonished, “I think these are real!”
“Real?” I asked, amazed.
“I saw a documentary about diamonds,” Sam explained. “A real diamond doesn’t fog up with breath. Look!”
I examined the earrings, shaking my head. “The stones are too big to be real. They’d be worth a fortune!”
But Sam was excited. “Let’s take them to a jeweler for appraisal.”
Reluctantly, we drove to the mall and had the earrings evaluated. The jeweler’s eyes widened as he examined them. “These are diamonds, set in 18-carat white gold. The stones look like emeralds. They’re probably Art Deco. Depending on the quality, they could be worth around $300.”
“$300?” Sam asked.
“$300,000, minimum,” the jeweler corrected. I was stunned and had to lean on Sam for support. We had truly found a treasure!
In reality, the earrings sold for $3 million at auction. The proceeds gave us a substantial financial cushion, and the porcelain egg now sits proudly on the mantel of our new home.
As for Sam, he’s now as enthusiastic about antique hunting as I am. He joins me at every flea market and antique fair, and while we haven’t yet found that Van Gogh, we remain hopeful.