Before Restoration the Savoy, London will Auction Historic Items
The auction will take place from December 18-20
LONDON, UK, September 27, 2007. In preparation for one of the largest hotel restorations in the history of London, The Savoy will hold a unique auction that will allow members of the public the opportunity to purchase items from its past. Bonhams, who will oversee the auction, today announced a list of over 3000 lots including lighting, mirrors, silver and artwork. A donation from the proceeds of the auction will go to benefit Farms for City Children (FFCC). The auction will take place from December 18-20, 2007.
According to Kiaran MacDonald, General Manager of The Savoy, the auction is the first step towards the future for The Savoy. "On December 15, we will close our doors for sixteen months as we undergo a comprehensive restoration of one of the world's truly iconic hotels," says MacDonald. "This auction is a chance for us to share some of our past with collectors, loyal guests and anyone who has strong memories of The Savoy."
The Savoy auction will include items taken from famous suites in the hotel, including the Monet Suite, the Richard Harris Suite and The Royal Opera House Suite. It will also include items from public areas such as the River Restaurant, the Lobby and the Beaufort Room. "The Savoy has a prestigious history, linked to the worlds of theatre, fashion, art and fine cuisine. Cesar Ritz was a manager here. Emilio Gucci was a bellman at the hotel. Claude Monet painted here. Vivian Leigh met Lawrence Olivier at the Savoy Grill and Auguste Escoffier was a chef at the hotel," adds MacDonald. "So as we close our doors in preparation for an equally illustrious future, we are proud to be working with Bonhams on this once-in-a-lifetime event."
A portion of the proceeds from the auction will go to the Farms for City Children charity. The FFCC, founded by well-known children's author and former Savoy writer-in-residence Michael Morpurgo, is dedicated to relieving the poverty experience of inner city children by inviting them to farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire.
Beginning on December 15, 2007, The Savoy will benefit from a lb100 million restoration program that will see the refurbishment of guest rooms, public areas, restaurants and The Savoy court. The designer on this project, Pierre-Yves Rochon, is well known for his work with the Four Seasons Georges V in Paris and L'Hermitage in Monaco.
To order a catalogue for The Savoy auction, please phone Bonhams at + 44 (0) 1666 502200 or email subscriptions@bonhams.com.
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