A painting by Chicago Surrealist Gertrude Abercrombie titled “Alderman Merriam’s Shells” sold for $1.35 million at Freeman’s auction house, setting a new record for the artist. The work, completed in 1951, depicts 10 scattered seashells and had been privately held for decades before resurfacing this year.

The painting was discovered in July at an estate sale in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where it was purchased for $30 by an anonymous buyer who immediately recognized its artistic and historical value. The artwork originally belonged to John Reynolds, a physician who reportedly received it from Abercrombie in the 1950s as payment for medical services.

“Alderman Merriam’s Shells” is a small oil painting last publicly displayed in 1953 and had not been seen in the art market until this recent sale. Susan Weininger, an art historian who specializes in Abercrombie’s work, authenticated the painting prior to the auction.

Abercrombie, whose career has seen renewed attention in recent years, is known for her enigmatic and dreamlike imagery, frequently incorporating seashell motifs. The record sale reflects growing institutional and collector interest, following several successful museum exhibitions and previous sales records for her works.