A mom was pleasantly surprised when her 4-year-old daughter showcased impressive thrifting skills by discovering a valuable design piece at their local store.
In a TikTok video that’s attracted over 2 million views, user @toniaja23 revealed a stylish teacup her daughter found for just $2.99.
“She is in LOVE! I had to Google it to find more, or at least an extra,” said the mom in the clip. What she found next left her in shock.
The teacup and its matching saucer turned out to be a rare gem from mid-century design: an Arzberg Porzellanfabrik Germany 70s Coffee Espresso Cup, designed by the renowned Gerald Gulotta.
This particular cup was part of Arzberg’s Chromatics line, produced between 1971 and 1973. Today, these pieces are highly sought after by collectors, with prices online reaching up to $55 per cup. One set is even listed for over $300 on eBay!
Gerald Gulotta, an American industrial designer born in 1921, was known for making functional yet stylish objects, especially in ceramics and glass. His work with Arzberg produced the iconic Chromatics collection, which is even featured at the Smithsonian.
Viewers on TikTok were impressed by the little thrifter’s find. User @eloose commented, “You’re a good mom to keep it instead of sell.”
@toniaja23/TikTok
User @TidalTay shared their own thrift story, saying, “My daughter found a mini vase for $1, which turned out to be a 1800s Chinese dollhouse vase worth $400!”
Others admired the young girl’s taste. “Whether for resale or not, that set is adorable. That toddler has exquisite taste!” commented @fungusamungus, while @Maggy noted, “That young lady has expensive taste!”
In her video caption, the mom mentioned they’d continue their hunt for more cups to complete her daughter’s collection: “Looks like we shall be thrift hunting for more of this set.”
Another thrift store find made headlines this week when a man discovered a My Little Pony toy for $12.99, only to find it was reported missing from a collector 2,000 miles away.
A thrift shop volunteer also sought help online for identifying a puzzling item, leading to some surprisingly creative suggestions.