When clients step into the beautifully appointed showroom spaces that comprise Carlton Hobbs Antiques, an internationally renowned gallery situated in the former Vanderbilt mansion on New York’s Upper East Side, they enter a world carefully curated over the course of many years by a man whose passion for culling rarities is equally matched by his commitment to animal welfare. A native Londoner who now makes his home in Manhattan, Carlton Hobbs is an instantly recognizable figure in his field, best known as a dealer of 17th, 18th, and 19th century fine art and furniture, but also revered as an extensively accomplished archivist and scholar. Building his professional reputation since the early 1970s, Mr. Hobbs has placed pieces in a number of the world’s most prestigious museums, from the Louvre in Paris to the John Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Additionally, his customer base includes a cadre of prominent private collectors, many of who possess celebrity status.
 
Amid all this glamour, Carlton Hobbs maintains a decidedly down-to-earth perspective, particularly regarding his personal and philanthropic pursuits. Aside from playing constant caretaker to four rescue dogs owned by his longtime business associate, Managing Director Stefanie Rinza, he provides a great deal of support to Companion Animal Rescue, a non-profit organization that finds homes for abandoned or stray cats and canines. Additionally, Mr. Hobbs donates to the Wild Bird Fund (WBF), a New York City-headquartered charitable entity that founded in June 2012.
 
On April 4, 2013, Carlton Hobbs Antiques will host a gala event to benefit the Wild Bird Fund and its outreach efforts. Guests will be treated to an eclectic array of entertainment, from Dzul Dance troupe and chamber music performances to a lecture by animal behavior researcher Jonathan Balcombe. A silent auction is also planned, and special attendees will include owls, hawks, pigeons, and squirrels.