AURORA - From basements to attics to the backs of closets there is no telling what hidden treasures may be hiding in people's homes.

Sunday afternoon the Grove Gallery gave people the opportunity to find out exactly what might be in those forgotten spots at an appraisal fundraiser, with all the funds going to Peachtown Elementary School.

Dee Sprague, who has experience as an antiques dealer and on eBay, was on hand to give appraisals.

“My children go to Peachtown,” Sprague said. “So we were looking for a way we could do something to help the school out and this is one way that I could help out.”

People will bring all sorts of items for appraisal for a variety of reasons, Sprague said.

“Old paintings, Japanese items, jewelry, things from their mothers or grandmothers, pottery glass, a little bit of everything really,” she said. “Sometimes people just want to know what they have, sometimes they don't have access to a computer to look the information up, or they've had an appraisal and want to see if it has increased in value. Or they just want to see if what they have is worth anything at all.”

While items and value can run the gamut, Sprague said some items can be surprisingly valuable.

“Sometimes people don't realize that something doesn't have to be really old, but it can still be valuable,” she said. “Things from the '50s, certain records from the '50s and '60s can be very valuable, and sometimes people don't even really think of it like that and are surprised to find out about what they have.”

But in her years of appraising, Sprague said she has come across all sorts of items - some of historical significance right from the area.

“There are a lot of antiques in this area,” Sprague said. “In the 1800s this area was pretty well covered with a lot of interesting pieces and there are still a lot of those old pieces from that time in the area's history around.”

Rick Bogel, an Aurora resident brought some fine china pieces. Bogel said he was curious about their value.

“I knew they were pretty,” Bogel said. “I wanted to find out if they were valuable as well.”

One piece in particular, a fine pitcher that appeared to be hand painted, Sprague thought might be of particular value.

Sprague photographed the item and said she would do further research, but estimated that the piece may be worth nearly $1,000.

Catherine Burroughs, who came along with Bogel, was amazed to discover this piece that the couple never paid much attention to might be so valuable

“We've never been particularly careful with it,” Burroughs said. “We've put flowers in it and things like that. She (Sprague) said that she thought it might have been hand-painted by the artist. Now it is something we'll be sure to find out more about.”