Beethoven Friendship Wine Cabinet Sells for $31,250 at RR Auction’s First International Live Auction
In December, RR Auction conducted its first international live auction at the Beethoven-Haus Bonn, held during celebrations marking the 255th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth. The benefit auction took place inside Beethoven’s birthplace itself—an institution defined by scholarship, stewardship, and continuity.
The evening brought together music, design, wine, and philanthropy in a setting shaped by historical responsibility rather than spectacle.
A Singular Work, Offered Once
The sole lot offered was The Beethoven Friendship Wine Cabinet, a strictly limited collaborative work created by the Beethoven-Haus Bonn with Italian designer Michele De Lucchi and twelve leading European wineries. Presented as Edition No. 2 of three, it was the only example made available at auction.
Inspired by a Bohemian wine glass Beethoven gifted in 1816 to his lifelong friend Franz-Gerhard Wegeler, the cabinet was crafted in black oxidized oak by the Beethoven-Haus workshop. It houses twelve magnum bottles from renowned European producers, including Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier, Château d’Yquem, Vega Sicilia, Gaja, and Tenuta San Guido’s Sassicaia. The work also includes a replica of Beethoven’s historic friendship glass and an invitation for the buyer to participate in a private tour of the participating wineries.
The Live Auction at Beethoven-Haus Bonn
The charity auction was held on December 17, 2025, before a live audience gathered inside the Beethoven-Haus Bonn, with composer and conductor Tan Dun in attendance following his selection as the inaugural recipient of The Beethoven Friendship Award. The Beethoven Friendship Wine Cabinet sold for $31,250 (inclusive of buyer’s premium).
An on-site video from the evening offers a view inside Beethoven’s birthplace. Full catalog and lot details were presented publicly via Invaluable. In advance of the auction, international coverage of the award and the broader initiative appeared in WineNews.it, and the announcement of Tan Dun’s selection was shared directly by the Beethoven-Haus Bonn
Why the Beethoven-Haus Partnered with RR Auction
The Beethoven-Haus Bonn selected RR Auction based on long-standing familiarity with the firm’s handling of original Beethoven material. Over the years, RR Auction has presented original Beethoven autograph letters and musical manuscripts to collectors and institutions worldwide—primary-source works requiring careful scholarship and thoughtful presentation.
Earlier in 2025, RR Auction also handled a historically significant German wine: the 1953 Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling poured at the Adenauer–Khrushchev meeting that led to the release of 10,000 German prisoners of war. This background made RR Auction a natural partner for a project positioned at the intersection of music history, design, and European cultural heritage.
Art Supporting Art
Proceeds from the auction will support a new artistic project to be realized in 2027 by Tan Dun in partnership with the Beethoven-Haus Bonn. One cabinet from the edition has been formally presented to Tan Dun, while the third remains in the Beethoven-Haus permanent collection.
RR Auction was proud to take part in a project where art directly supports the creation of new art. Conducting the sale inside Beethoven’s birthplace, in collaboration with the institution itself, was both an honor and a responsibility—grounded in shared respect for history, creativity, and continuity.
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