Paul M. Mintz, antiques dealer who found valuable painting at a Baltimore thrift store, dies

Paul M. Mintz, an artist and antiques dealer who discovered a $26,000 painting at a North Avenue thrift store, died of cardiac arrest Monday at his Charles Village home. He was 91.

Born in Baltimore, he was the son of Morris Mintz and his wife Annette, grocers and immigrants from Poland and Russia, respectively.

He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany as a medic. He was given an early, honorable discharge after the premature death of his father. He ran the store, Mintz Food Market, at Pulaski and Franklin streets, with his mother for several years.

He studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

“Paul always spoke his mind and one day he walked into a MICA studio and saw an artist painting a canvas. He looked at the work and gave his appraisal — change this and add that,” said a friend, Craig Flinner. “Then he left the room. A few minutes later, his friend Hershel Fried, said, ‘Do you realize you just told Reginald Marsh how to paint,'” referring to the American realist painter who died in 1954.

“Paul was an hysterical story teller,” said his niece, Mindy Mintz -Lipowitz. “He was a good, down to earth person with a big heart.”

He met his future wife, Mary Forthuber Mintz, at a Valentine’s Day party in 1988. Their first date was at the old Louie’s Bookstore Cafe.

Mr. Mintz later received a business degree from the University of Baltimore and became a case worker for the old Baltimore City Department of Public Welfare.

“My brother was carefree. But you could not tell him how to paint,” said Martin Mintz. “He would say things that most people would not say. He was a character. He was his own person.”

He later joined the Housing Authority of Baltimore City.

He then became a full-time antique dealer and had a booth in a cooperative mall on North Howard Street. He also sold at the old Columbia flea market in Brimfield, Massachusetts.

He sold tin antique toys — including likenesses of Barney Google (a comic strip character created by Billy DeBeck) and Walt Disney figures.

“Paul had years and years of retail experience and in varying levels of selling,” said Mr. Flinner. “Paul charmed his customers. He’d sit in a shop with a dark beret on his head and would kibitz. He was a good flirt too. Customers liked him.”

Mr. Mintz visited thrift stores daily, sometimes twice a day, in search of inventory.

About 40 years ago, while at the old Veterans’ Warehouse thrift store on North Avenue he found a painting on the floor. The price was marked in red crayon on the corner. It was $9.95.

Mr. Mintz realized it was a good painting. He had it restored and it sold at Christie’s auction house for $26,000. Mr. Mintz recognized the artist, Jean-Leon Gerome, who lived from 1824 to 1904, because he recalled seeing Mr. Gerome’s works at the Walters Art Museum.

“Paul was the consummate salesman at heart and he was always looking to complete his last transaction,” said a friend, Robert Hammann. “People would look at his pieces over and over. Then they say they liked it but walk away without buying. After they left, he’d say, ‘Thanks for not buying.'”

Mr. Mintz resumed painting about 25 years ago and would decorate ravens on sweatshirts and neckties. He sold his works at the Pearl Gallery in Hampden and had his artwork reproduced on greeting cards. He exhibited at an Edgar Allan Poe themed show at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the old 26th Street Gallery and at the Peale Museum.

“He painted in pen-and-ink and watercolor. He was not a minimalist. His works were lively and he loved birds and flowers,” said Mr. Flinner. “He denied that he did self-portraits, but he did many.”

Mr. Mintz carried his sketchbook with him and occasionally sketched patrons at the Peppermill Restaurant in Towson. He also sketched on napkins, tablecloths and doilies.

Plans for a life celebration are incomplete.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Mary Forthuber Mintz; three brothers, Martin Mintz and Melvin Mintz, both of Pikesville, and Dr. Sylvan Mintz, of Potomac; and nieces and nephews.