CHRISTIE’S HONORS THE PLAZA WITH AN AUCTION THAT REALIZES A MILLION MORE THAN PRE-SALE EXPECTATIONS Over 500 potential buyers packed Christie’s Rockefeller Plaza saleroom and battled with international phone-bidders and a swathe of commission bids for a chance to own a piece of the legacy of this gl
News-Antique.com - Nov 30,-0001 - New York - Bidders from all four corners of the globe congregated at Christie’s New York today to pay homage to the iconic Plaza Hotel and participated in a six-hour auction marathon that realized $1,760,760 - one million dollars more than pre-sale expectations.
Over 500 potential buyers packed Christie’s Rockefeller Plaza saleroom and battled with international phone-bidders and a swathe of commission bids for a chance to own a piece of the legacy of this glamorous and celebrated landmark. Over 350 select lots went under the hammer, and the auction, with pre-sale estimates ranging from $50-18,000, offered something for everyone.
A true celebration of this world-renowned Manhattan institution, the auction saw many lots soar to remarkable levels. The top lot of the day was an oil painting, View of the Plaza from Central Park, by the Spanish American artist Luis Graner y Arrufi that hung in the 59th Street lobby. Bought by a private Asian collector, the work realized an extraordinary $78,000 against a pre-sale estimate of only $1,000. Items from the famed Oak Room featured prominently in the sale and two notable successes were a silver plated meat cart dating from the 1920s which fetched $50,400, and a black Steinway baby grand piano that was bought for $42,000.
Cathy Elkies, Director of the Plaza Sale at Christie’s, says: “A lot of people clearly wanted a piece of the Plaza. With consistent interest in the sale over the past two weeks, we were thrilled with the stellar results; although on one level not completely surprised, considering the continuing allure of this legendary Manhattan landmark.”
Other lots of interest included the fabled Eloise slippers that realized $3,840, kept at the Concierge desk and brought out at the request of young children who enquired to the whereabouts of the fictional hotel resident. Nine lots of six brass doorknobs from the hotel were keenly sought after, with the top lot making $7,800 – or $1,300 per doorknob.
The sale included a wide array of items, from monogrammed flatware and china, to elegant chandeliers and mirrors, entry tables, and bed linens. The auction also included items from a number of The Plaza’s famous named suites, including the Frank Lloyd Wright Suite, the Lady Mendl Suite, and the Presidential Suite.
