Photos courtesy Profiles in History
Fans of old Hollywood glamour that disappeared with the likes of Lillian Gish, Rita Hayworth and a circa-'70s, bikini-clad Farrah Fawcett can literally recapture that long-lost image—for a modern-day price.
This Friday and Saturday, auction house Profiles in History offers the public a rare chance to own an idealized—and idolized—moment in time. The Calabasas Hills, Calif.-based company is putting a multi-million dollar collection of vintage glamour photography up for bids in an unprecedented online auction.
Among the goodies up for grabs: the original negative and custom print of photographer George Hurrell's iconic portrait of Jean Harlow on a white bearskin rug (shot for "Vanity Fair" magazine, and now estimated at "well over $20,000"), early modeling photos of Angelina Jolie and George Clooney, and golden-age master prints from famed photographers such as Richard Avedon, Robert Mapplethorpe, Man Ray, Harry Langdon and Herb Ritts.
These photographic treasures are part of the Michael H. Epstein and Scott E. Schwimer collection, which, according to a Profiles in History news release, "contains tens of thousands of the best examples of Hollywood fine art, including works by George Hurrell and his contemporaries, including Clarence Sinclair Bull." Worldwide bidding begins at noon Pacific time both days. Bids can be placed in person, via mail, phone, fax or live on the Internet by visiting
http://www.profilesinhistory.com or
http://www.liveauctioneers.com.
Epstein and Schwimer are opening their prized photographic vaults for the first time. Proceeds from the auction will "benefit many of the charitable organizations they passionately support," the news release states, "primarily the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, on which Epstein served as board member for seven years, and The Trevor Project, a non-profit endeavor established to promote acceptance for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth and to aid in crisis and suicide prevention among that group."
This auction will include rare, glamorous portraits of Drew Barrymore, Cheryl Ladd, Raquel Welch, Heather Locklear, Kirsten Dunst, Teri Hatcher, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ann-Margret, Halle Berry, Cher, Diana Ross, Will Smith, Rock Hudson and Arnold Schwarzenegger, among many screen legends from Hollywood's golden era.
Profiles' next general auction of TV and film-related memorabilia is slated for late May. Among the unique offerings: Johnny Depp "Edward Scissorhand" gloves, Julie Andrews’ “Mary Poppins” carpet bag, an original Barbara Eden-encasing bottle from "I Dream of Jeannie," Bruce Lee’s “Kato” hat from "The Green Hornet," Wayland Flowers’ original Madame puppet (with fainting couch!), a hero Colonial Warrior helmet from the original "Battlestar Galactica" TV series and a circa-'60s "Lost in Space" laser rifle.
This summer, after ABC's "Lost" airs its series finale, Profiles in History will auction off the drama's props, costumes and set pieces.
