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Savoy withdraws 300 lots from £1m auction
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent13 Dec 2007
Around 300 lots have been withdrawn from the sale of contents of the Savoy Hotel just days before they were due to be auctioned.
Some are items the famous hotel on the Strand has decided it does not want to sell after all.
But dozens are examples of post-1950 furniture which cannot be sold as the have proved not to have the necessary fire labels. Without a label, it would be illegal to sell such items to the public for domestic use.
A spokeswoman for Bonhams, the auctioneers handling the sale, said: "It's quite possible that some did have their fire label but it's come off in normal wear and tear. But we're not allowed to sell anything post-1950 that is missing its fire label."
However, while many lots were withdrawn, others have been added as the hotel finalises its inventory prior to closure for a £100 million refurbishment.
New additions include a mahogany cake stand, Art Deco tables and chairs and beds. There are cut-glass whisky and port decanters expected to make between £200 and £300 and a free-standing-cigar humidor with a similar estimate.
The auction is still expected to make up to £1 million despite the withdrawals.
The sales take place over three days from Tuesday, December 18, with no reserves.
Reader views (2)
This looks to me like a tragedy ... is there no outcry at the desecration of such a magnificant institution?
- Ken Standing, Hove, Sussex UK, 19/12/2007 02:03
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So the same government that is always banging on about recyling passes laws that force the Savoy to chuck away stuff that people would be happy to buy.
Typical.
- Julius Blumfeld, London, 15/12/2007 15:25
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