As art appraisers, we encounter extraordinary objects—paintings with fascinating backstories, heirlooms that bridge generations, and artifacts that embody centuries of culture. But every so often, a piece crosses our path that is unlike anything we’ve seen before. For us, that piece was a simple wooden dreidel with an out-of-this-world journey.

From Earth to Orbit: A Dreidel’s Space Odyssey

In December of 2023, NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli brought a small wooden dreidel aboard the International Space Station. What began as a gesture of tradition soon became a moment of both celebration and science.

In the microgravity of orbit, the dreidel spun endlessly, only slowing when nudged. At one point, it even tapped gently against the window of the space station’s cupola, 250 miles above Earth. What might have seemed like a playful holiday moment quickly became a physics demonstration—a toy transformed into a lesson in momentum, gravity, and heritage.

It was also a deeply symbolic act. For Jewish families around the world, the dreidel represents resilience, memory, and joy. To see it spinning in the cosmos underscored just how far cultural traditions can travel, and how meaning is carried with us, even in the most extraordinary of places.

An Unexpected Discovery in Detroit

Years later, that very same dreidel found its way into the collection of a synagogue. When Detroit Fine Art Appraisals was called in to evaluate the synagogue’s Judaica holdings, our founder, Terri Stearn, was astonished to encounter this remarkable artifact.

The story of its spaceflight elevated the dreidel’s value by roughly $10,000, but its monetary worth is only part of the picture. Like many objects we appraise, the true fascination lay in its provenance—the record of its journey through time. How did it end up in the synagogue’s collection? The answer remains a mystery.

“Maybe someone passed away and left it behind, or perhaps it was sold during hard times,” Terri reflected. “You never really know. That’s the intrigue of provenance—it’s a puzzle with pieces you sometimes can’t fully fit together.”

The Lesson It Left Us

This small wooden toy taught us a powerful truth: value in art and artifacts is shaped not only by the physical object itself but by the story it carries. A dreidel on its own might be worth a few dollars. A dreidel that spun weightlessly above the Earth carries cultural, historical, and scientific significance far beyond its simple form.

As appraisers, our role is to honor both aspects—the tangible and the intangible. We measure materials, research markets, and document conditions, but we also listen closely to the stories that breathe life into objects. Sometimes, those stories are what transform something ordinary into something extraordinary.

Why Stories Matter in Appraisals

Whether it’s a family heirloom, a piece purchased abroad, or an artifact with cosmic connections, provenance is a key factor in determining value. Stories of ownership, use, and cultural context enrich not only the financial worth of an item but also its meaning to the people who preserve it.

Have a piece with a story of its own?

We’d love to help you uncover its value. Contact us today