Justin Miller, 33, found a chair for just over SEK 500 on Facebook Marketplace.
Three months later he sold it for over a million.
– The stars aligned, he says to TV4 Nyheterna.
Justin Miller works as a design writer in Los Angeles, USA. Every day he scans the furniture for sale on Facebook in search of bargains – and his latest haul would prove to be something out of the ordinary.
– When I find something that looks unique and well made, I search online to learn more about it. When I first saw the chair, I loved the color of the leather and I thought it had a really interesting shape, so I wanted to learn more about it, says Justin.
– When I sent a message to the seller to schedule a time to pick up the chair, she said something like “if you repair the chair, it’s worth a lot.” So the owners knew it was worth a lot of money but I doubt they realized how much, he continues.
Only made in 50 copies
It turned out that the chair, by the brand Frits Henningsen, was very unique and that it was only produced in 50 copies. The estimated value was between SEK 300,000 and 500,000.
At an auction three months later, the chair went for around 900,000 kroner and after extra fees the total amount landed at over a million kroner.
– I knew it was possible but I definitely didn’t expect it! Of course I would be grateful for whatever it was sold for, but I had told myself that if it went for at least SEK 400,000 I would be overjoyed, says Justin.
– This really only happens once in a lifetime, the stars definitely had to align for this but I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it. I would also like to think that I have a good eye for special objects as well, he continues.
Best tips
With the money, Justin will buy “something small” to remember his super deal. The rest will go towards a deposit for a house.
– People always tell me they can’t find anything good on Marketplace, but they just don’t look hard enough. I spend at least 30 minutes on Marketplace every day, and if I have a project I’m working on, it’s usually much longer, he says.