This Victor Higgins painting sold for $728,000 at Mapes Auctioneers & Appraisers antiques auction late last year.

A man retiring and moving to Colorado brought the picture to the auction gallery. It had always been in his family and had never been cleaned or restored. Auctioneer David Mapes was delighted to tell him his picture was worth well over $100,000 at auction.

The consignor was in Taiwan visiting a relative as the auction was conducted. Before retiring the night before the auction, he emailed Mapes, writing that he was “hoping for the best but would be satisfied with the results whatever they were.” He was more than happy when he woke to the news of the robust price his old painting had brought. The winning telephone bidder from Italy vied against nine other phone lines and a well-known gallery representative on the floor.

The price reported includes the buyer’s premium. For information, www.mapesauction.com or 607-754-9193.