Artist Discovers 2000yo Roman Bust at Texas Goodwill for $34
A Roman bust dating back to the first century and missing for decades has resurfaced, now displayed at the San Antonio Museum of Art. Its journey back to prominence began in 2018 when artist Laura Young stumbled upon it at a Goodwill store in Austin, Texas, priced at just $34.99.
While browsing, Young noticed the bust tucked under a table and decided it was an interesting find. Upon closer inspection after purchasing it, she realized the piece appeared extraordinarily old and worn. Over the following years, she sought guidance from art historians at the University of Texas at Austin and experts at auction houses across the country.
Eventually, Jörg Deterling, a consultant with Sotheby’s, identified the bust as an ancient artifact once housed in a German museum. Deterling helped connect Young with German authorities, confirming the bust’s historical significance. Dating to the late first century B.C. to early first century A.D., the sculpture is believed to depict either a son of Pompey the Great, a rival of Julius Caesar, or the Roman commander Drusus Germanicus, as reported by *The Art Newspaper*.
How the bust traveled from Germany to a Texas thrift store remains unclear. However, the museum speculates that it may have been looted by a U.S. soldier stationed in Aschaffenburg during World War II or the Cold War before being brought back to the United States.
This remarkable discovery, first reported in 2022 by *Archaeology News*, highlights the unexpected treasures that can surface in the unlikeliest places.
A Roman bust dating back to the first century and missing for decades has resurfaced, now displayed at the San Antonio Museum of Art. Its journey back to prominence began in 2018 when artist Laura Young stumbled upon it at a Goodwill store in Austin, Texas, priced at just $34.99. While browsing, Young noticed the…