A selection of silverware, artwork and furnishings, once housed on a extravagant yacht belonging to a Saudi prince, are set to go under the hammer in Scunthorpe. These luxury items were originally found on the Sarafsa, a six-deck superyacht, owned at one time by Prince Fahad bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz al Saud. The forthcoming auction, planned for Wednesday, will present an array of high-end goods, including goblets believed to have been under the possession of Louis XVI, the late French king.
Paul Cooper, a representative of Eddisons Auctioneers, referred to the collection as a ‘treasure chest’, commenting that these items became available for purchase following the recent sale of the yacht to an anonymous buyer. The vessel was put up for sale for a hefty €65m (£55.4m). The Sarafsa, completed in 2008, was deemed the largest motor yacht to be built in a UK shipyard at the time. The lavish interiors boasted luxuries fit for a monarch, from a grand piano lounge and a cinema, to a spa and more.
The auction catalogue lists 70 lots of silverware, which demonstrates a variety from snail forks to hallmarked silver sugar tongs. This is complemented by the refined Austrian Augarten Wein tableware and French crystalware from both Baccarat and Royal de Champagne. These highly sought-after collectible items, valued at over £1m when first bought, are expected to generate a great deal of interest.
This article was originally reported by The BBC and has been adapted for The Lincoln Post.
