Eloise portrait vanished from Plaza Hotel, found in dumpster, sells for $100,000

In a fascinating twist of fate, Eloise's original portrait, crafted by Hilary Knight in 1956, mysteriously disappeared during a Junior League Ball in 1960. Rediscovered in a dumpster, it lay dormant in Knight's closet for years, only to be brought back to life at a 2017 exhibition at the New-York Historical Society. Its subsequent auction at Bonhams in 2018 for $100,000 underscores the unpredictable journey and enduring value of art.