“SELLING UP” THE HAPSBURGS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4309, 26 August 1921, Page 1

“SELLING UP” THE HAPSBURGS.

A DYNASTY’S TREASURES AT

AUCTION.

Vanities of vanities I How vain everything is ! writes the Vienna correspondent of the “ Observer.” Which of the Hapsburgs would have thought only a few years back, when the old monarchy still existed, that within a comparatively short time most of their “eternal” possessions 'would be under the auctioneer’s hammer, and those magnificent antique valuables, the unique furniture, pictures, tapestries. etc., owned by the “ highest and most ancient, aristocracy,” .as they liked to be called by 'their flattering satellites, would be acquired by plebeian nouveaux riches ? How many “court” remembrances, how many stories'-and “events” of the “best society” are bound up with those, pieces of furniture, those' art treasures, and other houselwld gods ! And now they are being dispersed into all the winds of the world. Ever since the breakdown bi£ auctions of Austrian aristocrats’ ’ possessions have become almost weekly sensations. One by one the former Hapsburg castles bought up by strangers. One by oiie the last landmarks of Hapsburg property in Austria vanish. Of the few remnants left the recent sale of Little Maria Theresa Cattle, and especially the auction of the- contents of Klessheim Castle, have roused the greatest . attention.

Klessheim Castle, the beautiful rococo building, is now known to the English through the ac.tipn of the' Reading' (Berkshire) committee who have acquired it for ten years, and fitted the castle as a convalescent home for Austrian children. The late Archduke Ludwig Victor, Emperor Francis Joseph’s brother, -who was "in disgrace,” had owned Klessheira Castle, and left it to ex-Emperor Karl and his family. The whole contents have just been sold by auction at the “Dorotheum,” of Vienna, where otherwise the pawned beds and tables of the man in. the street find new owners. A Spanish l business concern bought the heritage ,and ordered the auction. The colour of most of the china and objects of art is blue-white, Ludwig Victor’s favourite ’ colour. There were no fewer than six bluewhite rooms at Klessheim. A -tea sec of silver and gold, which Napoleon had made a present to his wife, Marte Louise, and a writing set of his, a very valuable wonk by the famous Parisian goldsmith Eiehnais, fetched fancy prices. This reminds one of Napoleon’s writing table (declared by some to be an imitation) coming froip another castle, which recently fetched here twelve million kronen, A large magnificent vase, in beautiful light blue.and gold, which Tsar Alexander I had presented to Archduke Karl, was one of the pie'ces most admired by all visitors to the auction. For eight tapestries seven millions Were paid. The most valuable one, called "Suhher,” was a Work from Brussels, dating back to the beginning of the eighteenth century. The, two oldest tapestries had been manufactured in the fifteenth century. Heaps of a£t treasures from Eastern Asia, the Chinese porcelain being particularly fine, were offered. One hundred and Jhirty pictures were sold for eleven and a half millions.- and it is remarkable that modern painters were preferred to old masters. The net proceeds of the whole auctiofi amount to 55,000,000 kronen. In this connection it may be of interest to know that the Austrian Republic has taken over the ownership of the former “Crown property.” Thus the famous Hofburg in Vienna, historic Schonbrunn Castle,.. close to the capital, the Burgtlieatre, the Court Opera, and all the museums and libraries are now in the possession of the State. The dynasty’s many country seats, with their .large surroundings of woods,.have been passed to invalided soldiers, who Jure beginning to settle there. Bu't, alas ! the museums and collections belonging to tlie impoverished republic can hardly afford the costs of their maintenance* let alone their acquiring any of those art treasures. The Austrians never knew what wonderful works of art were shut off in; the numerous Hapsburg castles. Scarcely have, the castles- been opened and known to the public, when the valuables are dispersed all over the world, i It is not too much to say that Austria has become the auction hall of Europe.