Person | Markku Ellala sells his “royal” property: “Life is giving up”

A lot memories, crying and work. This is how an interior artist from Sastamala, a royalist, describes his feelings in recent weeks Markku Ellala.

Mark and Chip Ellala became known as the “royal couple” of the royal villa Villa Royal. The tourist destination located in Mouhijärvi was transferred to the couple’s daughter and her husband in a generational change, Mirva and Pasi Puupponen in the summer of 2021. At the same time, the site’s service concept was renewed.

An exhibition of Egyptian cultural items started Villa Royal’s tourism activities in 2012. In addition to this, the royal villa was full of the Ellaloes’ own antique and art collections.

Read more: Royalist Markku Ellala already loved gold and glitter as a child: Now he lives in a royal palace with golden faucets

Now the entire collection is for sale. It will be sold in the Tureng auction center’s online auction on April 1 and 2.

The artefacts comprise more than a thousand objects in total, as well as the entire “Treasures of Egypt” exhibition. Among the items are exact replicas of Tutankhamun’s throne and death mask. The oldest items are from the early 18th century.

“Life is giving up. Selling things is a big and difficult thing for me. Fortunately, Villa Royal stayed in its own family”, says Markku Ellala.

Markku and Sirpa Ellala have so many antiques and art objects that they require large storage facilities to store them. “There are 150 cubic meters of stuff in storage.”

All the objects have now been packed and delivered to the auction in Turenki. “Certainly one of the rarest auctions in Finland”, guesses Ellala.

According to Ellala, one work of art has mysteriously disappeared during storage. It’s a sketch of a Picasso painting Devil from 1937.

“The painting was on display at Villa Royal years ago, but not anymore in recent years. It could be that I saved it a little too well, and I can’t find it anymore”, says Ellala.

Even though it’s just a sketch by Picasso, Ellala says its price will rise to tens of thousands of euros.

By now giving up her unique collection of objects, Ellala says she is doing a cultural and climate act.

“Things get a new life. I hate disposable culture, but antiques always retain their value.”

Mark and Sirpa Ellala have retired and still live in Sastamala. Next summer, the Ellalas will spend time in Markku’s birthplace in Ranua. There they open a booze cafe for tourists.

“I still love all things glittery, but its time is over now. Now I retreat to the peace of my birthplace in Ranua, heat up the sauna in the yard and swim in the river. There, I’m a normal Markku, just the way I am.”