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Government Taps Bertolami to Auction Meloni’s State Gifts for Charity

The disposal follows rules that treat high-value official presents as public assets intended for sale to support non-profits.

Overview

  • Palazzo Chigi’s secretary general ordered the sale on October 24 and has assigned auction management to Bertolami Fine Art under a 5% fee with a €40,000 contract cap.
  • Roughly 270 items were logged in an official inventory filed with the Chamber in May, and the auction house will handle valuation.
  • The final lot list and the sale date have not been published, with plans for an institutional venue offering in-person and online participation.
  • Proceeds are to be donated to non-profit organizations, with media estimating potential receipts at about €800,000.
  • Notable gifts in the inventory include Libyan jewelry, blue python high heels with a gold heel, and a tablet from Volodymyr Zelensky, and the chosen house previously ran an auction that drew political attention.