From the flea market to 420 euros: Heike luck with Niki de Saint Phalle!

From the flea market to 420 euros: Heike luck with Niki de Saint Phalle!

Hannover, Deutschland - On June 5, 2025, an exciting consequence of the popular ZDF flea show "Bares for Rares" took place, which amazed the audience with a remarkable rarity. Sales Heike presented a limited brooch by Niki de Saint Phalle, which she had acquired on a flea market for only 2 or 3 euros. This remarkable bargain turned out to be part of a limited edition of only 500 pieces, with the brooch presented number 163.

The expert Dr. Heide Recepa-Zabel explained to the guests that the original frog look of the brooch is related to a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen that inspired the artist. Despite the impressive background story, the brooch was in a battered state with a striped color. Heike first expressed the desire to achieve 50 euros for her find, while the expert estimated the value of up to 400 euros. In good condition, the brooch could even have reached a value of up to 2,000 euros.

Reges bidding battle

A lively bidding battle developed in the dealer room. Elke Velten opened with an offer of 250 euros, while Julian Schmitz-Avila quickly increased to 300 euros. Anaisio Guedes finally made the best deal, who acquired the brooch for 420 euros. In the end, the surprise was visible to everyone when Heike revealed that she had acquired the brooch for less than 5 euros, which made the transaction particularly exciting for everyone involved.

niki de Saint Phalle, born on October 29, 1930, was an important French-Swiss artist who is known for her unique works and in particular her famous “Nana” figures. These colorful, female statues that were created from 1965 became a trademark of their work and found international recognition in renowned exhibitions, including at the documenta in Kassel.

the heritage of the artist

de Saint Phalle lived and worked in various parts of the world before dying in San Diego on May 21, 2002. In addition to her “Nanas”, she also created numerous important works such as the grottos in the large garden in Hanover-Herrenhausen, which were opened in 2003. Her artistic heritage is left in various museums and in the Giardino Dei Tarocchi in Tuscany, which was opened in 1998. The artist received many awards and was an honorary citizen of the city of Hanover.

The current episode of "Bares for Rares" once again illustrates the continuing interest in art and the amazing increase in value of objects, which are often discovered by accident. The combination of art history and modern flea life remains a fascinating topic that should also play a role in future editions of the show.

For more details on this episode, visit the reporting of tz.de and the original story of fuldaer Zeitung . Further information on Niki de Saint Phalle can be found on the Wikipedia page The artist.