LOS ANGELES, CA.- Bonhams & Butterfields announced the November 16, 2010 auction of the Estate of Maria Helen Smith, San Diego, California. 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 Los Angeles-based 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. 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