Glitz, glamour, celebrity, luxury – these are some of the words associated with the famous Savoy Hotel in London, England. A regular home away from home for many famous people, it has counted among its guests Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne, and Bob Dylan. For one year, though, no more people – famous or otherwise – will be entering its doors because of a planned massive renovation.
The good news is that people with a penchant for items used by celebrities will be able to indulge their passions because the hotel will be auctioning off thousands of pieces of furniture – and many of them have reportedly been used by celebrity guests. These items were used in the hotel’s bedrooms and lobby, and in the Parlour Bar and River Restaurant. I’m thinking owners of small hotels and restaurants will benefit from this auction, apart from celebrity memorabilia collectors. Imagine the prestige of having a sofa that once belonged to the historic Savoy Hotel as part of your modern reception furniture set!
There are numerous chairs, tables, chandeliers, cabinets, and many more items that will be put up for sale. While it’s true that some pieces are very highly priced, especially the big ones, all items are up for grabs at no reserve, making many of them very affordable. Here are some of the chairs that the Savoy will be including in the auction:
- Set of nine George II style mahogany framed dining chairs (picture above)
- Four-seater sofa in purple upholstery
- Matched suite of drawing room furniture
- Pair of late 19th century mahogany armchairs
- Set of ten carved beech frame fauteuils
- Set of six stained beech framed open armchairs
All lots can be seen at www.bonhams.com/savoy, so take a look. The auction takes place from December 18-20, 2007, so there’s no time to lose if you want to acquire a piece of modern hotel seating for your own home or establishment.
