Bonhams & Butterfields Joins Stars For A Cause Charity Auction Held 5/28

International fine arts auctioneers, Bonhams & Butterfields, is pleased to announce the firm's participation in the May 28, 2009 'Stars For A Cause' charity auction. A uniquely creative campaign, the sale is set to showcase its collection of custom-made, hand-crafted jewelry and fashion accessories presented by a who's-who list of Hollywood celebrities and worn on the red carpet by the likes of Goldie Hawn and William Shatner, among others. Cunard Line returns as a sponsor of this year's campaign and is joined by Robyn Rhodes Jewelry, Auri Footwear and Moët & Chandon Champagne.

Transported by Cunard Line's flagship Queen Mary 2 aboard a six-day Transatlantic Crossing between New York and Southampton, England, the collection will preview in an exhibit at Bonhams in London on May 5th during an event organized by The Prince's Trust, one of the benefiting charities. Then, it arrives back in New York for an exhibit at Bonhams on Madison Avenue on May 18th before the tour and final preview culminate at the live auction with more than 100 lots at Bonhams & Butterfields in Los Angeles on May 28th.

"Cunard Line has long offered a most civilized mode of travel across the Atlantic for scores of celebrities, royalty and stars alike, and now their dazzling jewelry and fashion accessories will travel in-style. We take great pride in being the official liner transporting the Stars For A Cause collection to its unveiling in London," shared Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line.

In addition to hosting gala preview events in New York, Los Angeles and London, Bonhams & Butterfields will open bidding on these one-of-a-kind items during a live auction in Los Angeles on May 28th. According to Carolyn Mani, Director of Sunset Estate Auctions at Bonham & Butterfields, "We anticipate an international audience will express interest in the jewelry, footwear, handbags and Hollywood memorabilia. Bidding could be quite competitive for these one-of-kind items. Bonhams & Butterfields is honored to join this effort."

"The red carpet at Hollywood's major awards events is recognized worldwide as the premiere locale to showcase high fashion," said George Braunstein, co-founder of the "STARS" non-profit organization. "We're giving this year's award season nominees and presenters the opportunity to show their creativity by designing their own jewelry to wear on the red carpet. Most importantly, the jewelry will later be offered at auction by Bonhams & Butterfields on May 28, 2009 to raise money for the celebrities' favorite charities," added Braunstein.

'Entertainment Tonight' is pleased to support such a unique and compelling project," said Linda Bell Blue, executive producer of 'Entertainment Tonight' and 'The Insider.' "There is nothing better than mixing Hollywood glamour with a charitable cause," she added.

This year's campaign was made possible by the generous contribution of acclaimed jewelry designer Robyn Rhodes, who worked with the celebrities and oversaw manufacturing of the one-of-kind pieces.

Rhodes jewelry is cherished by Hollywood's elite, including Jessica Alba, Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson and Eva Longoria. Incorporating precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, 14K gold-filled and sterling silver chains, Rhodes's creations have been featured in movies, on television and in national magazines.

Auri Footwear, the hip, Southern-California based design house of stylish men's footwear has also partnered with Stars For A Cause. The special celebrity-presented shoes will utilize a solid piece of machined billet aircraft aluminum that creates the main backbone of Auri Footwear's patented new design technology. It is then plated in sterling silver and the Auri logo is embedded with diamonds. This mechanical chassis is topped off by exquisite Italian leather uppers with sheep skin lined interiors and, as with all Auri Footwear, utilizes Outlast temperature regulating materials originally developed for NASA and used in space suites to create even more comfort. Participating celebrities will include: William Shatner, Ludacris and Jesse McCartney.

Star studded one-of-a-kind auction highlights from the May 28, 2009 sale at Bonhams & Butterfields will include: a collection of purses embellished with a celebrity "kiss" and autograph by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Eva Longoria, Teri Hatcher and Reese Witherspoon; one 12-litre "Balthazar" and one 6-litre "Methuselah" bottle of Moët & Chandon Champagne signed in gold by Golden Globe Award® winners, nominees and presenters, including the cast of Slumdog Millionaire (2008), Colin Farrell, Susan Sarandon and Ricky Gervais and a selection of limited-edition posters celebrating the 66th AnnuAl Golden Globe Awards®, individually autographed by Hollywood's biggest and brightest stars, including Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Sigourney Weaver and Kate Winslet, generously donated by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, among others (estimates upon request).

 

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