An Australian mum has been left kicking herself after taking to Facebook Marketplace to offload a painting for $200 that was actually worth about $20,000.
‘Struggling’ single mum Sarah Bonner bought the minimalist piece from the same popular second-hand site back in 2021 but decided to relist it for some extra cash.
After originally listing the item for $100, she was chuffed when she was offered $200 by a ‘really nice’ buyer who chatted to her on Tuesday.
Ms Bonner told the Gold Coast Bulletin it wasn’t until the next day when another buyer wrote to her asking if the painting was still available that she realised she had made a costly mistake.
That buyer informed her the piece was very likely done by French artist Pierre Soulages, who died in 2022.
The abstract painting the woman sold on Facebook was likely by French artist Pierre Soulages
Similar works of his have sold for tens of thousands such as this one for $30,060
‘Struggling’ single mum Sarah Bonner said she didn’t realise she’d made a costly mistake until the day after the sale
The work appears to be one of 200 in a series titled ‘Lithographie No. 3’.
Similar pieces in the artist’s collection have sold for upwards of $50,000 and one of his paintings – not in this series – reached $35million at auction.
She claims Leigh Capel bough the item
Ms Bonner’s painting – or rather former painting – would likely have been worth $20,000 if verified.
‘If I knew someone in that situation I would like to see them actually offered a better deal and be honest with them about how much it’s worth,’ she said.
‘It could have really brightened my year and really made a difference to my family.’
She said she searched the buyer’s name online and claims he is Leigh Capel a well known art dealer from Sydney.
Mr Capel runs the Belle Epoque gallery in Petersham which sells art and antiques.
There is no suggestion Mr Capel has done anything wrong.
