MILAN.- Following the recent earthquake in Abruzzo, Italy, Sotheby’s Milan, Italy in association with the Municipality of Milan, Mondadori Publishing House and Casaviva magazine will hold a charity auction on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 7pm of 70 chairs by some of the world’s most important designers, to raise funds for the people of Abruzzo. The auction, which was the idea of the Mayor of Milan, Letizia Moratti and Councillor Giovanni Terzi, will take place at the beautiful and historical Palazzo Marino on Piazza della Scala in Milan.

The selection of chairs to be offered for sale was made from a collection of more than 200 displayed in the cloister of Palazzo Marino, at Salone Internationale Del Mobile, the world-famous annual furniture design and production fair in Milan, with which the charity auction is intended to coincide (the fair opened to international designers, design connoisseurs and the general public on April 22).

Claudia Dwek, Co-Chairman Sotheby’s Italy, will act as auctioneer for the sale - the first charity auction staged in Italy to benefit those affected by the earthquake in Abruzzo – with the assistance of a very special guest, Italian comedian Teo Teocoli. Upon hearing about this initiative, Teocoli immediately shared the enthusiasm for the endeavours of this unusual fund raising evening for the reconstruction of Abruzzo.

Entirely devoted to 70 chairs by some of the best and most famous designers, the auction will feature pieces by internationally celebrated names such as Philippe Starck and Patricia Urquiola, and renowned Italian designers Antonio Citterio and Michele De Lucchi. Prior to the auction, the Milan Council have created a very special pre-auction view, which begins in Piazza della Scala with three chairs in the renowned colours (red, white and green) of the Italian flag to entice visitors to discover this special public exhibition in the internal courtyard of one of the most important historical buildings in Milan, Palazzo Marino, its headquarters.

This important event was made possible thanks to the cooperation of Mondadori and Casaviva – who were both involved in the gathering and selection of these most extraordinary creations by both Italian and international designers.