Cafe Royal items sold at auction
|
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7839565.stm Version 0 of 1. Items from the Cafe Royal - the haunt of royalty, politicians and celebrities - have fetched 10 times their estimated price at an auction in London. The Regent Street establishment, which has been patronised by the likes of Sir Winston Churchill, Oscar Wilde and Princess Diana, closed on 22 December. Some pictures and chandeliers from the venue, which was established in 1865, attracted bids of up to £15,000. But a boxing ring estimated to be worth £4,000 to £6,000 sold for just £456. The ring had been used to entertain guests during black tie events at the venue. Some pictures which were worth £1,000 were selling for £10,000 Julian Roup, Bonhams spokesman More than 120 lots, including a mahogany clock, humidors, brandy caskets and other furniture from the cafe, went under the hammer at Bonhams in Knightsbridge, west London. A Venetian glass and gilt chandelier, which hung in the Cafe's Napolean Suite, was expected to fetch between £5,000 and £8,000 but it went for £15,600. A late 19th Century electroplated grill serving trolley sold for £12,000 and a pair of oak coopered barrels from the same period went for £8,400. Spokesman Julian Roup said: "The provenance and fantastic history of the place has generated prices that are not really reflective of the innate value of the objects. "Some pictures which were worth £1,000 were selling for £10,000." The cafe was opened by a Parisian wine merchant on the run from prison Speaking about the failure of the boxing ring to reach its estimated price, Mr Roup added: "What can you do with a slightly used second-hand boxing ring? "That was the only thing that didn't really sell." The cafe was opened by Parisian wine merchant Daniel Nicolas, who was on the run from the French authorities. Over the years the regulars included Edward VIII and his brother George VI, Mick Jagger, Muhammad Ali, Elizabeth Taylor and Baroness Thatcher. In 1894 it was the scene of an infamous - and unsolved - murder when night porter Marius Martin was found shot dead. The venue will make way for a five-star hotel. |