# Gertrude Abercrombie painting auction record

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/gertrude-abercrombie-painting-auction-record
> Updated: 2026-10-11T09:13:06.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

An American surrealist painting by Gertrude Abercrombie, titled ‘Alderman Merriam’s Shells’ (1951), sold for $1,352,600 at a Freeman’s auction in New York, setting a new record for the artist.

The artwork was originally purchased for $30 at an estate sale in Michigan. Reports indicate the piece had been out of the public eye for nearly 75 years, having been given by Abercrombie to a doctor in Kalamazoo, Michigan, as payment for medical services.

Authenticity was confirmed by art historian Susan Weininger after a collector identified a faint signature and discovered a 1952 Chicago Tribune press clipping in an exhibition catalog. The final sale price significantly exceeded the pre-auction estimate of $150,000 to $250,000.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-11: Gertrude Abercrombie painting sells for $1.35 million after $30 estate sale purchase

A $30 oil painting by surrealist Gertrude Abercrombie, found at a Michigan estate sale, sold at auction for $1.35 million.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gertrude-abercrombie-painting-sells-for-135-million-after-30-estate-sale-purchase-1

### 2026-10-06: Gertrude Abercrombie painting sells for $1.35 million after $30 estate sale find

A Gertrude Abercrombie painting purchased for $30 at a Michigan estate sale sold for a record $1,352,600 at a New York auction after its authenticity was confirmed.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gertrude-abercrombie-painting-found-at-estate-sale-sells-for-135-million

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Cite as: Gertrude Abercrombie painting auction record. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/gertrude-abercrombie-painting-auction-record