Justin Miller, a 33‑year‑old Los Angeles content creator, flipped a Frits Henningsen oak‑leather chair from a Beverly Hills yard sale for $107,950 at a Sotheby’s auction on June 7, 2023.
The chair surfaced on Facebook Marketplace in February 2023, listed for $50 by a private seller. Miller, who admitted he was no furniture expert, noted the chair’s striking leather color and unusual shape and was persuaded by the seller’s claim that a repair could boost its value.
Miller reached out to Sotheby’s after posting the find on social media. The auction house agreed to restore the chair—repairing torn leather, conditioning the material, and tightening the seat fabric—and set a pre‑sale estimate of $30,000 to $50,000.
On the day of the auction, the bidding spanned just under three minutes. The price climbed past the estimate, closing at $85,000; with buyer’s premium, the final tally hit $107,950. Carina Villinger, Sotheby’s head of 20th‑century design, hailed the sale as a record for Henningsen chairs.
The live stream of Miller’s reaction exploded online, amassing over four million views in hours. Miller praised the find, saying he will continue to search Facebook Marketplace for hidden gems that could fetch high prices.
With the auction concluded, Miller’s next move is clear: he will keep hunting for undervalued furniture to replicate his success.