Ana Ramirez, a 36‑year‑old occupational therapist—who had started visiting thrift stores during the pandemic—slipped into a Goodwill store on March 12, 2020, looking for a quiet break. She picked up a canvas for $15.99, unaware that it would become a treasure.
She hung the piece above her bed and treated it as a simple decorative item. In 2023, she took it to PBS’s Antiques Roadshow at the North Carolina Museum of Art for appraisal. The expert, Betty Krulik, examined the painting and identified it as a Le Pho work.
The canvas, titled "Cueillette des Pommes Cannelle," is an oil on board from the 1960s. A small plaque, a signature in the lower‑right corner, and a gallery label linking it to Findlay Galleries confirmed its provenance.
Krulik estimated that comparable Le Pho pieces could fetch between $60,000 and $80,000 at auction. She also suggested insurance coverage of up to $100,000 to protect the painting’s value.
Le Pho, born in 1907 in Hanoi, studied at the École des Beaux‑Arts in Paris and later taught in Vietnam. His style blends Vietnamese motifs with European techniques, making his mid‑century works highly sought after by collectors. Ramirez is now preparing to insure the painting, a move that could pave the way for future exhibitions or a private sale.