As part of a massive phased refurbishment effort, one of London’s most iconic hotels will auction off almost 2,000 things next month.
The Dorchester, which is located in Mayfair and overlooks Hyde Park, will be offering furniture, artworks, and accessories that reflect its breathtaking magnificence.
Buyers will be able to purchase the trappings of a five-star lifestyle as part of a two-day sale hosted by hospitality auctioneer Pro Auction while The Dorchester undergoes a big restoration.
For the first time, the Dorch will auction off its treasures as it is lovingly called. Each room’s furnishings, including sofas, lamps, rugs, chandeliers, draperies, and writing tables, TVs, headboards, and other decorative items, will be auctioned off. Of course, there are items for the more practical customer, such as velvet and silk ottomans with fringe, marble-topped coffee tables, and the furnishings of the bar and promenade built by Thierry Despont, a famous architect and designer.
The sale will include furniture and fittings from The Dorchester’s world-famous promenade and legendary bar, as well as signed prints by HRH the Prince of Wales, Derek Rangecroft, and Heidi Koenig, luxury Italian lighting and chandeliers from Laudarte and Barovier & Toso, and fine furniture by Restall Brown and others.
The Dorchester has left a good impact on royalty, a-list celebrities, and those with a taste for the finest things in life since its inception in 1931. The Dorchester will undergo its most extensive refurbishment since 1989. It starts with the entryway, the Promenade, and the Bar, as well as the guest levels, after Alexandra Champalimaud completed a modest guest room renovation in 2012.
The two most prestigious names in design have been appointed to enhance all guest rooms and public areas and integrate the latest innovations while honouring the building’s architectural heritage as one of London’s most revered landmarks, as part of the hotel’s commitment to providing guests with unrivalled facilities and services. The hotel entrance, The Promenade, as well as the new guest rooms and suites, will be redesigned by Pierre-Yves Rochon, while the bar will be redesigned by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio.
The Dorchester will remain open throughout the refurbishment, with afternoon tea served in the spectacular Orchid Room and a newly-envisioned rooftop restaurant set to open in spring 2022 alongside The Grill, Alain Ducasse, and China Tang – as well as the Dorchester Spa, the hotel’s ballroom, the penthouse, and the Chef’s Table – remaining open as usual.
“As the owners prepare the way for a new chapter for The Dorchester, this huge refurbishment project comes with it the chance to acquire a piece of the hotel’s history at auction,” said Simon Rose of Pro Auction.
The auction will take place at the hotel on June 21st and 22nd, 2022, starting at 10.30 a.m. A live broadcast will be accessible for online bidding. The auctioneers may arrange for viewings, and the catalogue can be downloaded from the bidding website.
