Adieu Eloise

Diva fondly recalls many late nights at the Oak Bar at New York’s historic Plaza Hotel, and strolls through the lobby with its elegant oriental cachepots filled with palms, gently swaying beneath crystal chandeliers—with violins strumming the background. Oh, the glory of it all. The most perfect hotel in the most perfect city in the world! Eloise, the character from the book, “Eloise at the Plaza,” was to be envied. What a perfect place to live—or visit?

Now, all the elegant accoutrement that once embellished the Plaza Hotel is being auctioned off to make way for—condominiums (gasp). How very déclassé.

Christie’s will auction off items from the Plaza on March 15 in its Rockefeller Center Gallery. At 99-years-old, the Plaza barely missed its 100th birthday as one of the world’s greatest hotels. The grand dame’s embellishments, ranging from bellmen’s uniforms to architectural treasures and lighting fixtures, will all go to the highest bidders. A chandelier from the Le Petit Trianon dining room is predicted to bring around $8,000. How about doorknobs? They are expected to bring around $600 to $800 per lot. Diva—being a gourmet, of course—might bid on one of those silver serving carts with the impressive roll-tops. (One of the originals from the 1930s, of course—not one of those faux, mid-'80s editions added by Ivana Trump.)

Now Diva wants to know, what smart store designer will go to this auction and snatch up some perfectly marvelous treasures to decorate a retail store?

Maybe Diva will see you there. Who knows, Eloise may pop in to purloin a trifle or two, and we can all say, “adieu,” in style.

--RoxAnna Sway