The Paris Ritz holds a promising auction

Attention vintage and antique lovers. On September 25, 26, and 27, 2024, the grand Ritz of Paris plans to part with over 1500 collectible pieces from the hotel's history during an auction titled Univers du Ritz Paris. Six years after its last public sale, where the hotel parted with more than 3500 pieces totaling 7.3 million euros, the establishment has decided to repeat the experience and has again called upon Artcurial. The French auction house of art and collectible objects will once again take care of this sale, featuring an impressive selection of items from the hotel, tracing no less than 125 years of history. Located at Place Vendôme, in the heart of the French capital, this little goldmine is full of treasures, has seen the greatest international artists pass through, and has surely been the muse of many of them. Born in the Belle Époque, in 1898 to be exact, the Ritz, in addition to being an example of comfort and elegance that many luxury hotels around the world will draw inspiration from, also marks a turning point in the history of the hotel industry. It was the first hotel in the world to have electricity on all floors and offer rooms with private bathrooms. A revolution signed by César Ritz, which will lead the institution to its success and international fame, even 2 centuries later.

But it is also a particular client, or rather a tenant, who made the Ritz a symbol of class reserved for a select elite. Gabrielle Chanel, better known as Coco Chanel, the famous fashion designer who had a considerable impact not only on fashion and style but also significantly changed women's clothing to make it more comfortable and practical. The designer, whose Rue Cambon atelier was just a stone's throw from the hotel, settled there in the 1920s and did not leave for 34 years. The Coco Chanel Suite (with an area of 188 square meters), where she stayed, was dedicated to her in 2016, decorated by Karl Lagerfeld, and today it is possible to stay there for the modest sum of €36,000 per night. The hotel is also sadly known as the last place to host Princess Diana before her tragic accident. The establishment also welcomed the greatest poets and writers, such as Marcel Proust, who made the dining room his observatory, or Francis Scott Fitzgerald.

The hotel consists of 71 rooms and 71 suites, all luxuriously furnished and containing collectible objects and trinkets that the most seasoned collectors will have the opportunity to acquire next September. Silver-plated magnum buckets, crystal glasses decorated with the hotel's crest, leather benches from the Hemingway Bar, early 20th century Cristofle trays, and Haviland Platines and Imperial service created in honor of the hotel's reopening in 2016 are among the items that will be auctioned. The most important lot has been estimated between €1500 and €2000. The selection will also be presented on September 21, 23, and 24, 2024, at the Marcel Dassault Hotel located on the Champs-Élysée. An announcement that suggests a potential makeover of the hotel. Could the establishment be ready to renew itself once again after the renovations carried out 8 years ago? Nothing is certain. What is certain, however, is that the auction promises to offer little gems of decoration, an opportunity not to be missed.