Sometimes the clutter people drop off at Goodwill is a hidden goldmine. In 2012, Beth Feeback of North Carolina went to Goodwill in search of a canvas. Mrs. Feeback found a huge red painting with black, white, and blue stripes. She paid $9.99 for the piece. She hoped to paint cat portraits over it!

A friend advised Mrs. Feeback to check the artist’s name on the tag. The painting turned out to be “Vertical Diamond” by New York artist Ilya Bolotowsky (Bo-luh-tow-skee). It sold at an auction for more than $27,000! (An auction is a public sale where items are sold to the person who offers the most money.)

Thrift-store finds that are rare, in good shape, in demand, and made by someone famous can sell for big money. But to prove that value, it may be helpful to know the piece’s provenance.

Provenance (prah-vi-nence) is the history of who made and owned an object.

Here’s an example. From 2002 to 2004, Italian car company Ferrari made only 400 of its Enzo model. Ferrari gave one to the Catholic pope! Pope John Paul II had the car sold for $1 million to help people who suffered damage from a tsunami. Later, the Enzo sold again for $6 million! The new owner can say, “I drive a Ferrari that belonged to the pope!” Rare car. Famous owner. That’s the value of knowing the car’s provenance.

What gives you value? You are made in the image of God. No one else is like you. God says everyone He “formed and made” was created for His glory. (Isaiah 43:7)