The Savoy Hotel puts its furniture up for auction

One of the most famous and star-studded hotels is putting its furniture up for auction – including a bed slept in by Marilyn Monroe.

More than three thousand items from The Savoy Hotel in London will go under the hammer later this month just days before the five-star hotel closes for a £100 million refurbishment.

Bidders will have the chance to kit their home out with some of the most glamorous lots imaginable including an armchair sat on by Alfred Hitchcock and beds slept in by sex bomb Marilyn Monroe, Coco Chanel and Humphrey Bogart.

The three-day sale, being held by fine art auctioneer Bonhams, includes items from 215 bedrooms as well as the Parlour Bar, lobby and River Restaurant.

The auction is expected to fetch more than £1 million – but bargain hunters will still be in with a chance of bagging an antique as all furniture will be offered at no reserve meaning items could go for as little as £20.

Ornate lamps and mirrors are affordable with guide prices starting at ?40 but bidding on other lots is expected to be fierce.

Some of the star lots include two pairs of chandeliers, estimated to reach between £10,000 and £15,000, a grand piano and an oak dance floor.

A three-tier planter which stood in the hotel entrance, bespoke beds and a 20th century mahogany and metal mounted cylinder bureau will also be up for grabs.

Some of the world’s most wealthy and glamorous figures have walked the floorboards of the hotel built in 1889 including Sir Winston Churchill, Bob Dylan, Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin and John Wayne.

It is thought Laurence Olivier was first introduced to future wife Vivien Leigh in the foyer of the 263-room hotel.

Harvey Cammell, director of the sale for Bonhams, said: “The auction presents everyone around the world with a once in a life time opportunity to acquire an extraordinary range of iconic items from one of the most famous hotels in the world.”

The hotel was originally opened by Richard D’Oyle Carte, owner of  the Savoy Theatre next door, and is home to the famous Monet Suite, The Royal Opera House Suite and The Richard

Harris Suite, in which the famous actor once lived.

The world famous dessert Peach Melba was created in the hotel’s kitchen by legendary French chef Auguste Escoffier in honour of actress Dame Nelly Melba and bartender Harry Craddock invented countless cocktails in the hotel’s American bar.

The hotel will be closed for a year and is expected to re-open in 2009.

The sale will be held at The Savoy, Strand between 10am on Tuesday, December 18 and 10am Thursday, December 20.

All lots can be viewed online at www.bonhams.com/savoy.