The Ritz in Paris is imbued with a self-propagating mythology. Home to Proust, Hemmingway and Coco Chanel over the years, it has become a microcosm of Parisian decadence.
Following four years of extensive renovations, the famed Ritz hotel reopened its doors to the public in 2016. This refurbishment meant the replacement of much of the furniture, and now, two years later, you can get your hands on a gilded piece of its decadent history. Comprising over 10,000 pieces divided into 3,500 lots, the sale includes delicate china and glassware adorned with Ritz insignia, as well as Regency-style lanterns and four-poster beds.
Pieces available as part of the auction
Curated by Vincent Darré, the self-proclaimed Dandy whose rather fabulous trajectory has seen him pass through the most prestigious fashion houses —Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, Fendi — before launching his career as an interior furniture designer and creator of decorative objects, this monumental sale is preceded by a large-scale exhibition at Artcurial’s Hôtel Marcel Dassault.
Assuredly preferring to refer to his role as that of a Stage Director rather than a curator, Darré has individually selected each piece from the Ritz’s archives, actively entering into the aura of mythologisation that the hotel exudes. ‘I let my imagination run free with this project,’ says Darré, ‘I conceived of it like one would a film.’ While his principal inspiration is ‘the way Paris would have been perceived from the other side of the Atlantic by Americans during the 1950s’, Darré has also produced a series of watercolour illustrations of each lot, as well as various hand-painted wallpapers which provide thematic Cocteau-esque backdrops to each suite of the exhibition.
Highlights include a pair of crescent-shaped ochre velvet bar sofas from the Ritz bar; a pair of gilt metal single beds; a set of rosewood bar stools; a marble-topped regency-style desk from the Proust suite; a gilt metal floor lamp and a gilded wooden Louis XV-style writing desk topped with marble.
Rose suite, watercolour illustration, by Vincent Darré
INFORMATION
‘Once upon a time… The Ritz Paris’ is on view from 12-16 April, and will be followed by five consecutive auctions taking place at Artcurial from 17-21 April. For more information, visit the Artcurial website
ADDRESS
Hôtel Marcel Dassault
7 Rond-point des Champs-Elysées
75008 Paris
-
Highlights from the transporting Cruise 2026 showsThe Cruise 2026 season began yesterday with a Chanel show at Lake Como, heralding the start of a series of jet-setting, destination runway shows from fashion’s biggest houses
-
Behind the design of national pavilions in Venice: three studios to knowDesigning the British, Swiss and Mexican national pavilions at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 are three outstanding studios to know before you go
-
Premium patisserie Naya is Mayfair’s latest sweet spotHeritage meets opulence at Naya bakery in Mayfair, London. With interiors by India Hicks and Anna Goulandris, the patisserie looks good enough to eat
-
Prada Frames 2023: Milan programme announcedProgramme announced for Prada Frames 2023 at Milan Design Week, the annual symposium curated by Formafantasma at Luigi Caccia Dominioni's Teatro Filodrammatici from 17 to 19 April
-
Prada and Formafantasma announce Milan Design Week symposiumCurated by Formafantasma and at Milan’s National Braidense Library from 6 – 8 June 2022, Prada Frames is a free event exploring the relationship between the natural environment and design
-
Fendi and Mabeo present a ten-piece furniture collection in MiamiLaunched at Design Miami, the Kompa Collection is Fendi’s latest design collaboration, with Botswanan brand Mabeo, featuring furniture created in collaboration with an extensive network of the country’s artisans
-
Logo type: Sarah Coleman interprets Fendi's Peekaboo bagThe American artist warps and bends Fendi’s identity as she stages a brand takeover in Miami's Design District that includes furniture, bags and glow in the dark elements
-
Studio Kueng Caputo celebrates the architecture of Fendi’s HQFor Design Miami, Swiss studio Kueng Caputo creates a family of objects referencing the Fendi HQ’s architecture with bold volumes, hot hues and a palm tree
-
Who are we buying? An anonymous art and design auction changes the game in Miami -
Fendi celebrates a decade of Design Miami with a series of fountains by Sabine Marcelis -
Ettore Sottsass’ designs go up for auction in Paris this autumn
