Artcurial will auction treasures from the iconic Ritz hotel, with over 1,000 lots of tableware, silverware and glassware at the Art De Table sale in Paris in 20th-23rd June.
The Ritz Hotel Paris enlisted the auction house once again to orchestrate its second sale of its items, following the 2018 record breaking sale of 3,500 lots of furniture, tableware, and heaps of textiles.
Since its inauguration in 1898, the hotel has embodied the elegance and intimate luxury synonymous with the French art de vivre. Celebrating the art de la table à la française, an exhibition will precede the sale at Artcurial’s Paris headquarters in the Hôtel Marcel Dassault, curated by Laurent Buttazzoni, renowned and acclaimed French architect, gourmand, and celebrated host of delightful dinner parties in Paris.
Beautiful service
Six of the most beautiful dinner services from the successive layouts of the Parisian palace hotel will be presented for sale. From the iconic Marthe service commissioned by César Ritz in 1898 for the opening of the hotel to the Ritz Club service designed by Jean Boggio, more than 450 lots of Limoges porcelain will go under the hammer. Each piece embodies this legendary place that has always stood for elegance and the French art de vivre, and attracted guests from all over the world: celebrities, artists, royalty and writers, including Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn.
(Top of page – Service Marthe Bleu, Mise en scène Laurent Buttazzoni, © Charlotte Hess pour Artcurial)
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The hotel’s gold- and silverware will also be showcased, with around 400 lots including pieces bearing the “Hôtel Ritz” insignia, created by pre-eminent houses such as Christofle and Ercuis. Cutlery, shaped pieces, dishes and trays and tea and coffee sets will be presented alongside rarer items, such as three Christofle serving trolleys.
Also featuring in the catalogue will be numerous glass and crystal sets, including sets of cocktail glasses from the legendary Hemingway Bar. The hotel’s linen will complete the session, with an array of 200 lots devoted to table, bath and bed linen.
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Unique provenance
These objects are an opportunity for enthusiasts and collectors to own refined pieces with unique provenance, with estimates ranging from €100-150 for two ashtrays from the famous Ritz Club to €4,000 – 6,000 for a Christofle serving trolley.
For this sale, Artcurial will hold an exhibition in the salons of the Hôtel Marcel Dassault. Renowned French interior designer and author of the culinary guide Dîner à la maison Laurent Buttazzoni will be responsible for the scenography of the exhibition.
Following its famous Hotel Crillon (€6.6M), Plaza Athénée (€1.4M) and Ritz Hotel Paris (€7.3M) auctions, Artcurial strengthens its expertise in disposing precious luxury furniture and items from such grand French institutions.
At this stage it’s not decided whether the sale will be held normally with the public in attendance, or behind closed doors without attendees, dependent on Government recommendations for numbers of attendees, distancing measures and so on for public events. Collectors can bid online via Live Bid, by phone or by purchase order. The auctioneer will be in the gallery with the collaborators on the phone and on the internet, but the room will be empty. As usual, the sale will be streamed live online. Artcurial says it has “Made the choice not to make a wholesale transition to digital sales, but to maintain them as physical, in-person events as much as possible”.
Arrangements for the exhibition are also not confirmed – if Artcurial cannot open its doors to the public for the exhibition, they will set up an appointment system by which collectors will be able to book appointments with the specialists to see the lots. Again, this will follow the public health standards that will be in force.
Auction on Sunday 21, Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 June 2020, at 10am and 2pm
Artcurial – 7, rond-point des Champs-Elysées – 75008 Paris
Catalogue available online at www.artcurial.com
