Legions of famous guests have included Marcel Proust, Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel (who lived there for 30 years) and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (who began their honeymoon there).
The residence of choice for American billionaires when visiting the French capital, it has also featured as a location for Hollywood movies and fashion shoots.
In 2012 the hotel closed for the first time in its history for major renovation, opening again four years later.
The quantities of surplus furniture and fittings that resulted from this extensive makeover are now to make an auction appearance offering a chance to buy a souvenir from the famous landmark.
Around 10,000 items will go under the hammer in a five-day sale held by Artcurial in Paris from April 17-21. A team of 15 people have spent the last 12 months inspecting, labelling and cataloguing the material for the auction, to be preceded by a week-long view at Artcurial’s HQ on the Rond-Point des Champs Elysées, not far from the hotel itself.
The 3500-lot sale offers a taste of the Ritz’s history and its signature contribution to the French Art du Vivre.
César Ritz wanted the furniture in his hotel to look as if it had been accumulated over an extended period, just like a private residence. Consequently, many different styles are on offer from Louis XV and Empire to Napoleon III.
There are also fittings more specific to a hotel such as bath linen, items from the reception area, restaurant trolleys and bar stools, even minibars.
Each item will be stamped with the Paris Ritz insignia.
Artcurial has a track record of selling contents from Parisian landmarks, having already sold the contents of the Hôtel de Crillon, the Plaza Athénée and the Tour d’Argent restaurant.
