November Sunset Estate Auction to Feature Jewelry and Handbags from the Estate of Maria Helen Smithof vintage and designer handbags

Bonhams & Butterfields announced the November 14-15, 2010 Sunset Estate Auction featuring Property from the Estate of television and business pioneer, Maria Helen Smith. The two-day sale will include a robust selection of vintage and designer handbags, ties, luxury goods and jewelry once owned by Smith. The couture items will be offered together with select furniture, decorative arts and Asian Works of Art from the Smith estate in the San Diego community of Rancho Santa Fe, California. Maria Helen Smith was born July 4, 1921, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was a pioneer in the arenas of broadcasting, business and real estate. Over the course of her career, Smith paved the way for women in television, radio and corporate ventures. She was one of the first women in the United States to own a television station as well as one of the first female inductees to the Oklahoma Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Highlights from "The Couture of a Queen" section of the November sale will include a collection of gem-set and stone 14k bicolor gold rings (est. $1,200-1,400); a yellow stone and 18k gold coiled snake bracelet (est. $800-1,000); a stunning amethyst, diamond and gold ring (est. $200-400); a collection of leather, snake and lizard skin Judith Leiber hand bags (estimates range from $300 - 1,500) and two Hermes neckties together with Two Hermes gold tone scarf rings (est. $200-300), among others. Also featured during the fall auction is a wide selection of property from estates and private collections throughout the Western United States. Items of note include European and American paintings, prints, photographs, books, rugs, carpets, natural history and gemstones as well as Motorcars. Property from the Estate of Maria Helen Smith will also be featured during a single-owner sale on November 16, 2010. Assembled over the course of a lifetime, the Collection features a diverse group of 19th century works with a focus on the European and Asian aesthetic. The 300-lot single-owner sale will feature a discerning selection of rare pieces by renowned makers such as Francois Linke, Paul Sormani and Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener, as well as beautiful examples of gilt bronze, chandeliers, silver and porcelain from across Europe