Feb 18, 2026
What looked like an ordinary old crockpot turned into a lot of cash for one Nebraska senior.
Lois Jurgens kept her 30-gallon Red Wing Stoneware crock on her back porch for decades without thinking much about its worth, according to The Washington Post (1). She only used the cookware as a table and nearly parted with it for $20 at a garage sale.
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But once she heard about an auction for Red Wing crocks at Bramer Auction & Realty, she decided to give the auction house’s owner, Ken Bramer, a call. When Bramer arrived at Jurgens’ home before the auction, he was immediately struck by a rare feature: two stamps for the Red Wing Stoneware Company.
Jurgens told Bramer that she guessed it might be worth $100, but Bramer said she was “going to be surprised” at what people are willing to pay for such a find (2). The asking price for Jurgens’ Red Wing crock: $1,000. But the auction closed 32-times higher.
Jurgens, who turned 91 during the auction, told The Washington Post this was “the biggest thing I’ve ever gotten on my birthday.”
No crock of a birthday gift
Although Jurgens’ story may seem exceptional, it’s not unheard of for people to find items in their home that, when properly appraised, turn out to be big financial wins.
In fact, many million-dollar cases make this Red Wing crock auction look affordable by comparison.
In 2013, a family in New York netted $2.2 million for what they thought was a cereal bowl (3). Only after it was appraised did they learn it was an authentic artifact from China’s Northern Song dynasty. Considering they only spent $3 for this bowl, that’s over a 73,000,000% return on investment.
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A more recent example of a record-breaking auction occurred in 2024, when three California brothers discovered a near-mint 1939 copy of Superman No. 1 hidden beneath old newspapers in an attic. That single comic book sold for $9.12 million at Heritage Auctions (4).
But one of the most impressive stories has to be a ceramic vase family discovered while clearing a home in North London. After discovering that it was an authentic 18th-century Chinese masterpiece, the Bainbridge auction house estimated its value at $1.9 million. Shockingly, it actually closed at auction for $69.3 million (4).
For anyone clearing managing an estate, these stories serve as a major reminder that what may look like trash could turn into a financial windfall.
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How to spot the diamonds in your rough
So how do you identify these potentially valuable items while cleaning house? If something appears old, unusual or well-made, it’s worth a second look. Scan for maker’s marks, signatures, serial numbers or signs of hand craftsmanship.
Once you have an item that seems promising, set it aside and do some preliminary research online. A tool like Google Lens can help you snap a quick photo and get a rough sense of what the Internet says about its value. While this isn’t the final word, it can tell you whether it’s worth your time.
You won’t really know the value of your possession until you reach out to a certified appraiser through an organization like the Appraisers Association of America or the American Society of Appraisers. You could also look up local auction houses and antique dealers to see if they have an appraiser who’d give your item a look.
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As Jurgens’ story shows, it’s smart to pay attention to auction or appraisal opportunities in your community. For example, the PBS show Antiques Roadshow offers appraisals in different U.S. cities throughout the year. If you’re not camera-shy, check out where the show will be filming and enter for a chance to win tickets.
Alternatively, keep your eye out for local events like museum open-house appraisal days, which offer informal evaluations at low or no cost.
Reputable auction houses like Christie’s and Heritage Auctions also offer free online appraisals where you can send pictures and descriptions of your items (5, 6).
One final tip: Resist the urge to clean or repair items before they’re assessed. Sometimes, patina matters more than polish to get the best price.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
Washington Post (1); New York Post (2, 3); Associated Press (4); Christie’s (5); Heritage Auctions (6).
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Eric Esposito is a freelance contributor on MoneyWise with an interest in financial markets, investing, and trading. In addition to MoneyWise, Eric’s work can be found on financial publications such as WallStreetZen and CoinDesk. When not researching the latest stock market trends, Eric enjoys biking, walking his dog, and spending time with family in Central Florida. Eric holds a BA in English from Quinnipiac University.
