While sorting through a grandmother’s apartment, one can stumble upon items that carry unexpected value. Designer Yevgeny Grinevich, founder of UfO Design Vision, suggests starting with the jewelry box where family jewelry might be kept. He notes that value can lie not only in jewelry but also in silverware, coasters, or candlesticks.
“Even if there were no noble roots in the family, during dispossession noble property could end up in many hands,” he explains.
Treasures may also hide in the buffet, Grinevich adds, among old utensils and holiday dishes. The expert recommends inspecting all dishes carefully: look for the factory emblem, year of manufacture, or series markings to identify the maker.
“Commonly these items come from lines such as Lomonosov Porcelain Factory, Dulevsky, Gzhelsky, or Konakovsky and Verbilok Porcelain. Even if a service is only partially intact, minor cracks or scratches can add value,” he notes.
But the most intriguing finds, according to Grinevich, can be tucked away in a closet full of clothing.
“Even an old tweed suit from a grandmother’s era might be valuable. It could carry a legend from a first Chanel collection. An anonymous vintage handbag with bead embroidery can also elevate a theater-going look, provided it survives intact,” says the expert.
Many people discover objects tucked between old icons. Grinevich observes that it is often impossible to determine value without expert advice.
“Take a close look at the face of an icon. The more time the image has endured, the more likely it hides a worthy find. It is wise to entrust such discoveries to a professional,” she adds.
Antique dealer Ivan Efimov, a leading expert at the 12th President auction house, notes that valuing a painting can be trickier than verifying an icon’s authenticity. He cautions that the rule of “older equals pricier” does not always apply to paintings.
“Many pictures bear signatures and notes on the back. A valuable painting from the 20th century can end up in a cabinet or attic due to changing tastes, political shifts in art, or the artist’s own controversial reputation,” he explains.
The key, he says, is not to attempt to alter the paintings—do not wash, clean, or restore them yourself.
“Besides paintings, you may encounter pre-war propaganda materials. Keep those materials in their original condition and consult an arts and crafts specialist,” the dealer advises.
Efimov adds that if an ancestor was a collector, a scholar, or an artist, family archives may be preserved — a mix of papers, photographs, objects, or correspondence associated with famous individuals.
“Archives frequently appear in family collections. For example, in an archive connected to a renowned gunsmith, a small ring once belonged to a Decembrist and later surfaced at auction for millions,” he recounts.
Designer and space organization consultant Victoria Maslovskaya-Friedman urges patience with grandma’s furniture. Often simple, worn pieces can yield high value after restoration and resale by designers and decorators.
She notes that crystal chandeliers and fabric lampshades deserve a second chance as well. “Crystal chandeliers and Soviet-era fabric lampshades are popular with boho interior enthusiasts. Compare how many sell on resale platforms and you may rethink discarding them,” she says with confidence.
Porcelain figurines can also reveal hidden worth, depending on factors like period, edition, and rarity—the fewer pieces produced, the higher the price. “Figures of ballerinas, dogs, or elephants are sought after today, especially when the run was limited. While demand is lower for postwar pieces than for those from the 1920s and 1930s, well-preserved figurines can fetch impressive sums,” Efimov concludes.