Own a piece of Parisian history: the Ritz hotel auctions off 1,500 items

Tableware and silverware used by the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Ernest Hemingway and Gabrielle Chanel goes up for sale

An exterior view of the Ritz Paris hotel. Getty Images

The term “ritzy” came into being circa 1910, inspired by the opulence and glamour of the hotels founded by Cesar Ritz in the late 18th century.

Among them, the Ritz Paris stood as a bastion. It became a congregation point for celebrities, artists, royalty and writers, including Ernest Hemingway and Audrey Hepburn, and counted the world’s most stylish woman, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, amongst its long-term residents.

Now there's an opportunity to own a little piece of that history. A three-day auction is under way, featuring almost 1,500 lots, from Ritz Paris dinner services and glasses from the legendary Hemingway Bar, to gold and silverware and linen.

These include six dinner services from the successive layouts of the Parisian hotel – from the Marthe service commissioned by Cesar Ritz in 1898 for the opening of the property, to the Ritz Club service designed by Jean Boggio.

Running until Tuesday, June 23, the sale will also include about 400 pieces of gold and silverware featuring the Hotel Ritz insignia, ranging from cutlery, dishes, trays and tea and coffee sets to rarer items, such as three Christofle serving trolleys.

Also featuring in the catalogue will be numerous glass and crystal sets, including cocktail glasses from the Hemingway Bar. A further 200 lots are devoted to table, bath and bed linen.

"This auction will be the ultimate chance to take home a piece of the iconic universe of the legendary hotel that is the Ritz Paris,"says Stephane Aubert, auctioneer and associate director of Artcurial, which is running the sale.

Estimates range from €100(Dh411) to €150 for two ashtrays from the famous Ritz Club, to €4,000 to €6,000 for a Christofle serving trolley.

This follows a 2018 sale of the hotel’s historic furnishings.

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