When a Rainy Day at the Flea Market Leads to Treasure

Sometimes the most extraordinary discoveries start with a simple email. Last week, Sarah sent us a few photos of what looked like an interesting glass vase. The quality of her pictures was excellent - clear shots from all angles, with perfect details of the base and signature. As soon as I saw them, I knew I had to break protocol and call her immediately before sending our usual PDF report.

"Hello, Sarah? This is Philippe from Moon Rabbit Art. Do you have a moment to talk about the vase you photographed?"

"Oh yes, of course!" she replied with a charming British accent. I immediately switched to English as she explained she had just moved from London three months ago to join a creative agency in Paris as a graphic designer. "I just bought it yesterday at Porte de Vanves. I honestly don't know much about it, but I liked the design..."

I could hear the curiosity in her voice as I explained what she had found: a genuine René Lalique 'Borromée' vase from 1928. Her €45 flea market find was worth approximately €8,500.

There was a long silence on the line.

"Are... are you sure?" she finally managed to say.

Sarah then shared how she'd almost skipped the market that rainy Saturday morning. Still adjusting to Parisian life and trying to furnish her new apartment in the 11th arrondissement, she had started exploring the city's flea markets. She told me about finding the vase in a soggy cardboard box marked simply "Verre," and about the elderly vendor who mentioned it had belonged to a former housekeeper for a wealthy family in Neuilly during the 1930s.

"I just thought it was pretty," she admitted, still sounding stunned. "I never imagined..."

I explained the significance of the piece - its distinctive opalescent blue tint, the geometric fish scale pattern, and the authentic "R. Lalique France" signature. We discussed its history and why the 'Borromée' model is particularly sought after by collectors.

"Our formal appraisal report will arrive in your email shortly," I assured her, "but I wanted to call you personally to share this news. Discoveries like this are why we love what we do at Moon Rabbit Art."

"You know what's funny?" Sarah said, her voice now filled with wonder. "I think I'm going to keep it. Not because of the value, but because of this whole experience. How many people get to have a story like this? Plus, it will make a brilliant centerpiece in my new Parisian home."

After hanging up, I smiled as I prepared the official appraisal document. In our digital age, it's rare to deliver such exciting news personally, but some discoveries just deserve more than an email.