Because there are souvenirs that are larger than life
A souvenir is an object that we charge with responsibility. It has to remind us of a place, a moment, a time in our lives. Poor refrigerator magnets, poor soaps, poor fans that must activate memory.
Traveling and wanting to bring a piece of travel in the suitcase is something human. Most of the time it is something small, mass-produced, strong and easy to transport. Others, just the opposite. There are larger-than-life souvenirs, like the ones you can buy this month in Monaco. Why Monaco? Why not. It is close and reminds us of Hitchcock. No more reasons are needed.
Between July 18 and 21, an auction of Modern Art, archaeology, watches, jewelery and leather goods will be held at the Café de Paris in Monte Carlo. It is organized by Hotel des Ventes de Monaco , which has a name that requires reading with Mancini music in the background.
Rhinoceros habillé en dentelle, by Salvador Dalí
This auction house is based in the Principality and has been organizing this summer sale for three years. There are places that sell T-shirts with “A friend was at X and gave me this T-shirt”; in others a Degas is auctioned.
For two days the objects will be exhibited in the Bellevue Cafe Lounge, a place that has views of the port and the Plaza del Casino and whose peasantry is, exactly, as we imagine: discreet and cosmopolitan. He is the one who will bid for objects that range from the Dali's bronze rhinoceros from 1956 a a vintage Hermès carré , through a white gold necklace set with diamonds.
During these days you can buy works of classical masters such as Degas, Cesar or de Chirico. Last year the record was broken by a sculpture by Botero, that someone bought for 1,300,000 euros. This year, one of the jewels of the auction will be a Patek Philippe Celestial, with an estimated price of €200,000. It is an absolute rarity and an unused piece.
Along with these elevated objects there are other more affordable ones, such as a Louis Vuitton scarf with a starting price of €40. Bidding in such an auction is neither difficult (it can even be done online, but then the souvenir category disappears) nor is it reserved for others.
Patek Philippe Celestial Vers 2006
All that will be seen in this flagship Café of the Principality are souvenirs that have gotten out of hand, but souvenirs after all. They work just like the ceramic bowl we buy in Sifnos, like the hammock we put in our suitcase after returning from Oaxaca. They are imbued with that aura that has everything that is bought with great intention and in an extraordinary situation.
The souvenir is as old as the trip. It is said that in Ancient Egypt, Prince Arkhuf brought back leopard skins, ivories and frankincense on a journey. Rolf Potts tells it in his book Souvenir , where he reviews the history of something that no one, not even the most snobbish traveler, escapes.
We travel to remember. The word souvenir began to spread in the 19th century, when the bourgeoisie began to travel for pleasure. It is the time of the Grand Tour, of the Universal Exhibitions and, something prosaic but important, serial production. Collecting teaspoons, writing postcards... was a way to prolong the trip. Today everything is more uniform and it is difficult to find objects that only remind one of a place. However, in every trip you try.
Who buys on July 19 a Kelly green Bambou bag in Montecarlo you'll always remember the day you bought it, the time you bid on it, and what looked out the window. That's a great souvenir.
Hotel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo. Paris cafe. Monte Carlo. (July 18-21).
Whoever buys a green Bambou Kelly bag in Montecarlo on July 19 will always remember the day he bought it