LONDON.- Sotheby’s London announced that as part of its Important Jewels sale on Wednesday, 17 December, 2008, a selection of exceptional jewellery designed and donated by top contemporary artists and jewellers will be offered to raise funds for the NSPCC. A number of the 10 works, which are expected to raise in excess of £100,000, will include in their sale the original designs in addition to an experience, such as a champagne lunch hosted by the jeweller or a personal tour of the artist’s studio. Among the selection is an exquisite one-off yellow Gilded Cuff Bangle with numerous interwoven tubular sections by Louise Bourgeois (est. £25,000-35,000), donated by the artist and Hauser and Wirth gallery.

Sotheby’s Senior Specialist Joanna Hardy comments: “Sotheby's has a long history of conducting charity auctions, and we are delighted to be able to support the NSPCC by auctioning the exquisite selection of jewellery that has been generously donated by a range of top contemporary artists and jewellers. This auction marks an extremely exciting development in the recognition of unique jewellery as art. Not only is the selection to be offered as part of this exciting sale exceptionally well designed and crafted, we feel it is also representative of the creative and innovative approach that the NSPCC takes to fundraising.”

Anish Kapoor’s unique 22ct gold with enamel ring Water Ring 1 (est. £15,000- 20,000), designed and signed by the artist, is derived from the original Water Ring collection. This striking ring has been donated by Kapoor in conjunction with Louisa Guinness, who says: “Artists love another medium to be creative in and ‘wearable art’ is the new jewellery”. The Water Ring series is suggestive of Kapoor’s concave works, which often allude to and play with dualities such as light and dark, earth and sky, solidity and intangibility.

Also to be offered is a specially designed Ruby, Diamond and Black Diamond Pendant by celebrated Indian artist Subodh Gupta. The one-off pendant incorporates a circular-cut ruby and scattered brilliant-cut diamonds of near colourless and black tints and is estimated at £20,000-£25,000. Gupta works with everyday objects to create emblems and symbols of the society around him, and in this pendant he recreates the shape of a stainless steel pan in white gold and contrasts it with precious gems, the gems working to elevate this basic cooking utensil to an object of adornment.

Silver Charm Bracelet is edition 38 of just 50 by Damien Hirst. Estimated at £12,000-17,000, it is designed as a curb link chain suspending seventeen charms of various sizes depicting cast pharmaceutical pills. To accompany the bracelet, Frank Dunphy, Damien's business manager, will arrange a tour around one of the London studios as part of the ‘Damien Hirst experience’, followed by tea at the Wolseley.

Designed and created in 2008, the enamel and diamond Fairy Trellis pendant is estimated at £6,000–8,000 and was donated by Theo Fennell plc., one of Britain’s best-known jewellery and silver designers. In addition to the stunning pendant, Fennell is including a tour around the design and workshop studios.

Designed in the form of a shamrock, a one-of-a-kind Fancy Diamond and Diamond Ring donated and designed by Chatila will also be offered. Designed and created in 2008, this exceptional ring is estimated at £8,000 – 10,000. Diamonds are found in a variety of colours, each shade determined by their atomic structure, and since the availability on the market of these coloured gems is limited, they are highly prized. A champagne lunch with Marwan Chatila and the original design drawings of the ring will accompany the ring.

An individual and original Rose Quartz, Rhodolite Garnet and White Sapphire Dress Ring designed by Queensbee will also feature, together with an original design drawing, and is estimated at £3,000-5,000. Creative director Julia Kharitonona takes inspiration from Visantian, Renaissance, Etruscan and Victorian styles and her ethos is that a piece of jewellery must be unique like fingerprints.

A pair of White Gold Sapphire and Diamond earrings designed and crafted by David Morris in 2008 will also be offered and is estimated at £8,000-12,000. In addition to an original design drawing for the earrings, a champagne welcome with Erin Morris and tour of the workshop followed by a chance to try on pieces from their new “Amira collection” is also included.

Designed and donated by esteemed contemporary jeweller Shaun Leane, the Thorned Heart pendant, designed as a heart decorated with lilac guilloché enamel wrapped in briar thorns, set with brilliant cut diamonds, is estimated at £3,000-5,000. Former winner of Jewellery Designer of the Year award, Shaun Leane’s jewellery incorporates romanticism, beauty and strength with a distinctive style that has been influenced by the Victorian era, and this locket is one of his personal favourites.

The unique Chopard ladies Happy Sport Chronograph Wristwatch been specially created for the NSPCC sale and will be accompanied by an original design drawing. Estimated at £6,000-10,000, the watch features a winding crown inset with a circular-cut sapphire, two collet-set brilliant-cut diamonds and a cherub holding a heart highlighted with similarly cut stone inside the glass.

Money raised at the jewellery auction will benefit the NSPCC’s Rebuilding Childhoods Appeal, which helps fund the charity’s therapeutic services. The NSPCC supports children who’ve suffered sexual, physical and emotional abuse with support services at 33 therapeutic centres in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. NSPCC practitioners work with young people to help them overcome the long-term emotional and psychological effects abuse. Therapeutic work is tailored to the needs of each child and can include individual counselling, play or art therapy, group work and support for other family members.