A Unique Auction Experience at Sotheby’s Restaurant
If you’re not ready to drop $30 million on Gus, the 67-million-year-old T. rex skeleton that’s set to go under the hammer at Sotheby’s on July 14, there’s still an option for dinosaur enthusiasts. You can pick up a T. rex tooth from the Late Cretaceous period for a more manageable price of $40,000 to $60,000.
This tooth is showcased at Marcel, Sotheby’s fashionable restaurant, which has become quite the hotspot. The venue combines a cozy yet classy atmosphere with mohair booths and walnut-paneled walls, all set against an array of artworks. Some pieces, like a striking Ellsworth Kelly abstract painting at the top of the staircase, are part of the auction, while others are on loan from private collections.
Lisa Dennison, the president of Sotheby’s Americas, mentioned that a dedicated curation committee will select the art featured in Marcel. “They’ll collaborate with the restaurant team to keep the displays fresh and engaging,” she explained.
To learn more about the displayed treasures, patrons can use a QR code. Recent works featured include pieces by renowned artists like Franz Kline and Willem de Kooning, along with a sculpture by John Chamberlain and a Renoir nude.
Art historian Mari Claudia Jiménez, a former president at Sotheby’s, pointed out that these exhibits allow visitors to imagine living among such luxurious items. “It gives a sense of what it’s like to dine surrounded by such art,” she added.
But let’s not forget that Marcel primarily serves as a restaurant, and chef Marie Aude Rose is impressing guests with her classic dishes since opening last month. The menu draws inspiration from well-traveled, local flavors.
Ms. Rose, who co-owns another popular restaurant downtown, expressed confidence that the art wouldn’t overshadow the food. “In Paris, there are stunning restaurants surrounded by art,” she shared. Her aim for Marcel is to create a welcoming space for locals to return to.
Highlights on the menu include endive salad, beef tartare, and Dover sole meunière. However, we found ourselves repeatedly ordering the Hungarian chicken, delightfully spiced with paprika, and the Provençal orecchiette pasta tossed with basil, tomato, and olive oil—true culinary wonders that complement the artistic setting.
Designer Robin Alesch, who works with her husband Stephen at their architecture firm, envisions the dining area and sunken garden to reflect the building’s essence. “It was never meant to resemble an English pub,” Dennison remarked with a smile.
Jiménez described Marcel as a kind of private club, but one that’s open to everyone, with materials echoing the brutalist design of the building all while maintaining a warm and inviting ambiance.
Notable guests have included the likes of Michael Bloomberg, Woody Allen, Sofia Coppola, and Jodie Foster, among others. Still, the restaurant mainly draws local food enthusiasts, creating a lively, communal vibe.
It’s tough to assess the impact of the exhibition on artwork value. Jiménez recalled an Alexei von Jawlensky painting that significantly exceeded its estimated price, selling for $256,000 rather than the expected $150,000 to $200,000.
As for Alesch, he believes it’s too early to gauge the exhibition’s effect. “We’re just getting started,” he stated, hinting at the exciting potential ahead.
