The Hotel Bauer Palazzo, an iconic symbol of grandeur overlooking the Grand Canal in Venice, is embarking on an ambitious renovation project. In order to make room, the legendary palace sold off many of its historic furnishings at a $2.2 million auction.
The auction included more than 10,000 items from Bauer’s interior, grouped into 4,000 batches of From Murano glassware to tableware, handcrafted silks, textiles and furniture commissioned from renowned Venetian and Italian manufacturers.
The two-part sale included four live auctions that have just concluded, as well as three upcoming online auctions (until May 4). The live sales – organized by French auction house Artcurial in the royal rooms of the Hôtel Marcel Dassault in Paris, where reconstructions of Bauer’s rooms were staged – brought in a total sum of 1.5 million euros ($2.2 million), including fees, with 100 percent of the lots sold. According to Artcurial, the pre-sale estimate for the entire two-part sale is 1.2 million euros ($1.76 million).
A reconstruction of the Hotel Bauer inside the Hotel Marcel Dassault in Paris. Courtesy of Artcurial.
The highest-paying lot in the live game was an exceptional pair of Venetian trifold wall sconces who welcomed visitors in the large reception hall of the Bauer, fetching €158,064 ($232,000) – including fees – against an estimate of €30,000 to €50,000 ($44,000 to $73,000). Made in the 1950s in the style of the 17th century Murano glassware, each sconce is surmounted by a standard of the lion of Venice. The sconces were handcrafted according to oral tradition by the Seguso dynasty of glassmakers from a unique model made in the Renaissance and kept at the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory.
Pair of Murano glass wall sconces that once greeted guests at the Bauer Palazzo Hotel in Venice. Courtesy of Artcurial.
Other treasures on offer include pieces from luxury textile houses Rubelli and Bevilacqua, upholsterer Alessandro Vianello, Italian furniture maker Bussandri and master glassmaker Seguso Vetri d’Arte, based on the famed island of Murano. Some of the more unique pieces of furniture include curved Venetian chests of drawers and armchairs, as well as baroque-style wardrobes from one of the royal suites. In addition, the contemporary furniture of the terrace of the restaurant Settimo Cielo (Seventh Heaven) at the top of the Bauer is also available.
The sale is a chance for collectors and design enthusiasts to acquire a piece of Venetian history from one of Venice’s most famous hotels. Previously, Artcurial sold the contents of other five-star hotels including Hôtel de Crillon, Hôtel Plaza Athénée and Hôtel Ritz Paris.
Interior view of the historic Hotel Bauer in Venice. Courtesy of Artcurial.
Since its foundation in 1880, the Hotel Bauer Palazzo has preserved a rich history of art and architecture, as well as the cultural heritage of the city. The building itself is an excellent example of the Venetian Gothic and Renaissance styles, with its ornate façade and large interior spaces. From the beginning, the hotel has maintained an extensive collection of artwork, antiques, and furnishings, many of which have been passed down from generation to generation by the Bauer family.
Sale aside, the hotel is a treasure trove of art history. Its walls are adorned with paintings, sculptures and other works of art by artists from all over the world, including Titian, Canaletto, Tiepolo and Rubens. The collection also includes 20th century works by Picasso, Matisse and Klimt, known to be deeply inspired by the art and architecture of the city, especially the mosaics of its churches and basilicas, which he incorporated into his most famous works. , including The kiss.
Perhaps no other figure in the art world is more closely associated with the Bauer than Peggy Guggenheim. The famous art collector and patron was a frequent visitor to Venice and stayed at the hotel on several occasions. While she eventually purchased the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni to reside and house her modern art collection, the Bauer held a major retrospective of her collection in 1951, curated by Marcel Duchamp.
Interior view of the historic Hotel Bauer in Venice. Courtesy of Artcurial.
The hotel’s partnership with Artcurial is an opportunity to support the renovation of the Bauer Palazzo hotel, which is scheduled to reopen in 2025. The proceeds from the sale will finance sustainable development remodeling by Venetian architect Alberto Trosello and interior design group BAR Studio. Among the renovations aimed at achieving the hotel’s eco-certification, the duo will repair the hotel’s original Gothic-Byzantine façade, as well as the ornate balustrades of its grand neoclassical staircase designed by Venetian architect Lorenzo Boschetti in 1880 , an enduring icon of the hotel. .
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