Notebook

Silver found after 100 years

Construction in a historic St. Petersburg mansion led to the discovery of a massive treasure trove, containing a silver set that, most likely, belonged to the Naryshkin family, one of the most famous dynasties in tsarist Russia.

Workers renovating an eighteenth century residential building at ul. Chaikovskovo 29 once owned by the Naryshkins uncovered a small room that was not shown on any of the building’s architectural plans. It was packed with some 40 sacks of silver dishes and flatware. Several thousand items were uncovered and the settings are amazingly complete, including everything from knives to samovars and soup pots.