"Adler von Lübeck" from the 16th century
Everything that has accumulated in furniture, paintings, chandeliers, silver, crockery and antiques in the most renowned cellar in Hamburg since the opening in 1896 can now be bought by everyone.
After a long tug of war with the Hamburg Senate, the entire inventory of the venerable Ratsweinkeller comes under the hammer. From silver-plated cutlery with Ratsweinkeller inscription, to a ship's bow section as an end piece for buffets, to bronze door handles weighing twelve kilograms, a total of 40,000 individual items will be auctioned.
These include 22 historical model ships, some of which are over 100 years old. The sailing ships hung under the ceiling in the foundation stone vault of the Ratsweinkeller. Well-known brigs, corvettes and frigates are among them.
With the catalog number 1201, for example, the "Adler von Lübeck" from the 16th century will be auctioned. Originally it was to serve as an admiral ship in the war against King Eric XIV of Sweden. However, when the war ended before the ship was completed, she was used as a merchant ship. The minimum price is 1,800 euros, as is the case with almost all models.
Another special model is the "SantMaria", with the original of which Christoph Columbus discovered America. The ship shows the typical red cross on the main sail, which was a symbol for the Spanish conquest in the 15th and 16th centuries. The "SantMaria" is negotiated with the number 1208.
Other models to be auctioned are the four-master “Great Harry” from 1514, the Brandenburg frigate “Roter Löwe” from 1597 and also a corvette with the name “Bismarck” from the 19th century.
Many ships have the Hamburg coat of arms carved into the stern or bear heraldic symbols in their sails. The rigging of the ships is very complex and a real eye-catcher for every sailor. So reads in the auction list of a richly decorated four-masted ship, which drives 2 latin sails on the mizzen, as well as simple Mars and bram sails on the fore and main mast.
The auction is carried out by Hanseatische Auktionatoren GmbH and takes place in three warehouses of the furniture transport company Carl Hahn at Goosmoortwiete 7 in 25474 Bönningstedt near Hamburg. The auction starts at 10 a.m. and should last until 8 p.m.
The huge collection can be previewed from Wednesday 6th to Friday 8th December from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on the day of the auction from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. A detailed auction list can be found on the auction house's website.
Click here for the auction list