"Around closing time, a couple came in with a painting tucked into a brown paper bag... In that bag was a small-scale framed oil painting, signed by the American artist Fitz Henry Lane and dated 1858. The couple agreed to consign the work to Skinner for an auction, where it made $522,500, setting a record for the artist and more than reimbursing the auction house for its time."
"Every now and then you strike gold... When told of the painting's likely value, the couple 'nearly fainted dead away.' It was a good thing we were at a hospital."
"Instances of a six-figure work coming through the door are exceptionally rare, but appraisal days have become a valuable part of the trade... owners receive good news; more often, those hopes are dashed."
"A lot of people are just tyre-kicking, bringing things that have no particular value... Still, I did get to meet a lot of interesting people, and maybe one of those meetings will result in someone bringing me something very rare and very valuable."
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