Shannon Manthey was walking out of a Birmingham thrift store when she spotted a decorative sculpture of a magnolia flower and branch priced at $39.99.

She recognized the work of Alabama artist Frank Fleming, who created Birmingham’s Storyteller Fountain and died in 2018.

“I knew it was a valuable piece right away,” Manthey said. “It was on the weekend, about closing time at the Goodwill and I was walking out the door, and I asked myself, ‘what did I just see?’”

Manthey said the sculpture is signed by Fleming. She also picked up another small scupture that featured calla lillies and a turtle. She said she was shocked to see the pieces at the Goodwill Outlet on Green Springs Highway in Birmingham.

Another visitor to the same Goodwill recently found a designer wedding dress valued at $6,000.

Manthey is donating the magnolia sculpture to the Birmingham Zoo to be placed for auction during its annual gala.

“I’m putting this piece to good use,” she said in a TikTok video.

“But I’m keeping this piece,” she said of the calla lilies design. “I’m in love.”

The Zoo’s annual fundraiser is Oct. 5 at 5:30 pm. The adults-only event will include animal encounters, food, an open bar, live music and the auction.