Thrifter Finds Fancy‑Looking Sofa—Then Discovers Its True Value

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Melissa Fleur Afshar is a Newsweek reporter based in London, United Kingdom.

Her current focus is on trending life stories and human-interest features on a variety of topics ranging from relationships, pets, and personal finances to health, work, travel, and family dynamics. She has covered current affairs, social issues, and lifestyle stories extensively.

Melissa joined Newsweek in 2023 from Global’s LBC and had previously worked at financial news publication WatersTechnology, tmrw Magazine, The Times and The Sunday Times, Greater London-based radio broadcaster Insanity Radio, and alongside other journalists or producers for research purposes. Since joining Newsweek, Melissa has been especially focused on covering under-reported women’s health and social issues, and has spent a large part of her time researching the physical and mental impact of both the contraceptive pill and abusive relationships.

Prior to that, Melissa had been specialized in reporting on financial technology and data news, political news, and current affairs. She has covered data management news from industry giants like Bloomberg and Symphony, alongside the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the U.K economy’s 2022-pound sterling crash, multiple National Health Service (NHS) strikes, and the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran.

A show that she produced and presented at the Greater London-based community radio station, Insanity Radio, was awarded ‘Best Topical News Show’ and the runner up award for ‘Best New Radio Show’ on the network.

She is a graduate in MA History from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Languages: English, Persian.

You can get in touch with Melissa by emailing m.afshar@newsweek.com.

You can follow her on X or Instagram at @melissafleura.

Melissa Fleur Afshar

Life and Trends Reporter

🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.

A U.S. thrifter struck gold after picking up what appeared to be a dusty, forgotten sofa in a secondhand store—only to realize it may be a rare designer piece worth thousands.

The shopper, who goes by u/normal_end_891 on Reddit, shared their find on the platform, where it quickly gained traction. The post has been upvoted more than 2,800 times, sparking surprise and admiration among viewers, many of whom praised the keen-eyed purchase.

Accompanied by a photo of the gray, weathered velvet couch sitting on a thrift-store floor, the post read: “Definitely needs cleaned up and that tear hurts, but for the price I paid vs the value it could be resold for I was stoked.”

The image caught the attention of design enthusiasts who recognized the spiral couch as a Tatlin sofa—originally designed in the 1980s by Italian designers Mario Cananzi and Roberto Semprini.

Named in homage to the Russian artist and architect Vladimir Tatlin’s unbuilt “Tatlin’s Tower,” the original design was conceived as a bold architectural statement. Originally manufactured by Italian furniture house Edra, the piece, which is no longer in production, has become an icon in avant-garde furniture design.

Speaking to Newsweek, the shopper revealed they paid just $350 for the couch, and that they are based in the U.S. and in their 30s.

The sofa’s true market value, depending on condition, can be significantly higher. Similar pieces listed online have fetched prices in the range of several thousand dollars. Despite its tattered state, the sofa’s unique silhouette and designer pedigree drew astonishment on Reddit.

In the comments section of the original post, viewers weighed in on the rarity of the piece, with several calling the shopper “lucky.” Others encouraged the buyer to restore the sofa professionally to retain its value.

“I don’t get jealous often, but I did today,” one viewer said, while another added: “It is basically hotel, commercial, or really-rich-people’s furniture, and not particularly practical in most homes, but it is a beautiful design.”

The Tatlin sofa’s distinctive form—a spiraling, backless seat meant to be a “centerpiece” in the room—was designed not just as furniture, but also as an architectural art object. In recent years, interest in postmodern furniture has grown, with collectors and institutions increasingly seeking out bold statement pieces from the late 20th century.

At a time where iconic furniture often circulates within exclusive showrooms or auction houses, stumbling across a Tatlin sofa in a thrift store is akin to unearthing a piece of forgotten history.

“Thinking of holding onto it for a while though,” the shopper wrote, suggesting they may not be in a hurry to flip and sell their find.

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