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Hidden Tiffany Windows Fetch $252K from Philly Church
20 Oct
Summary
- Two obscured Tiffany windows sold for $252,000 at auction.
- Salvager Paul Brown bought them for $6,000, then spent $100,000 restoring them.
- Auction proceeds are frozen due to a bank ownership dispute.
Two century-old Tiffany Studios windows, hidden for decades by grime in a West Philadelphia church, were discovered and sold for a remarkable sum. Architectural salvager Paul Brown acquired the windows for $6,000 in November 2022 as part of a larger sale from the historic St. Paul's Presbyterian church building. Specialists later identified the windows as valuable works by Tiffany Studios, prompting their auction on May 18, 2023.
These two large, round windows fetched a hammer price of $100,000 each, totaling $252,000 after fees. However, Brown's financial gain was significantly impacted by over $100,000 spent on removal and restoration. A subsequent legal challenge by Fulton Bank, which held the church's mortgage, has frozen the auction proceeds, raising complex ownership questions regarding fixtures removed from historic properties.
The windows, featuring intricate designs like crowns and doves, were recognized by specialists who noted their layered glass and distinct Tiffany artistry. Their value was likely underestimated due to heavy soiling and the firm's contemporary fame primarily resting on lamps rather than windows. The dispute over the frozen funds highlights the legal intricacies involved when historic building components are sold, especially when property liens are in play.
