- First major auction of vintage Bollywood memorabilia in the UK.
- Attendees included Gopichand Hinduja, one of India’s richest businessmen.
- Vintage Bollywood Memorabilia from the greatest Bollywood films of all time.
- 172 lots including vintage Bollywood LPs, film banners, posters and gramophones.
Vintage Bollywood Memorabilia made its mark in London on Friday 29 November, as collectors from Australia, the UK, Holland, India, Spain and the UAE, watched 172 lots go under the hammer at Conferro Auctions inaugural sale, at the Westbury Hotel in Mayfair.
Celebrating 100 years of Bollywood, the auction featured collectables such as LPs, film banners and posters from some of the milestones of Indian film history, including Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and Sholay (1975), which were recently voted the top two greatest Bollywood films of all time.
The sale of vintage Bollywood memorabilia achieved more than £100,000. In total, over 80 per cent of the 172 lots were sold.
The auction was led by Lot 1, featuring LPs and posters from the classic Bollywood films: Mughal-e-Azam, Sholay and Mother India, which sold for £1,700. Lot 72, containing LPs from films such as Shabnam, Bhabi and Izzat, featuring the Bollywood singer Manna Day, sold for £1,200.
Commenting on the auction results, Sharan Seth, Founder of Conferro Auctions, said: “Our auction has set a precedent for the sale of vintage Bollywood memorabilia in the UK. The auction was a celebration of India’s cinematic heritage and heralds a new era for the Indian art and collectables market in the UK. We are overwhelmed with the support we have received from existing collectors and a new generation of buyers, reflecting the increasing appetite for vintage Bollywood memorabilia across the world “.
Attendees included Gopichand Hinduja (right), one of India’s richest businessmen, as well as Kamal Fabiani (left), one of India’s leading collectors of Indian art and heritage items.
A percentage of all sales achieved at the auction will be donated to Pratham UK. This is part of Conferro Auction’s commitment to help provide basic literacy to India’s 100 million illiterate children. The charity seeks to improve literacy and arithmetic skills of children in India; protecting them from child labour and providing young women with the opportunity to return to school.
The final lot, a cricket bat signed by 32 Indian film legends such as Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra was sold for 7,500. The lot was bought by Conferro’s Founder Sharan Seth, as part of his commitment to helping disadvantaged children in the UK.
The bat was donated by BBC Asian Network presenter Tommy Sandhu and all proceeds from the sale of the lot are going to the charity, Children in Need.
Children in Need provide grants to projects in the UK which help disadvantaged children and young people. They aim to empower and extend their life choices to make a real difference to the lives of children all across the UK.
Other notable sales:
Lot Nº 1 – 3 LPs and 3 posters from Mughal-e-Azam, Sholay and Mother India £ 1700.
Lot Nº 17 – 10 LPs from films including Safar, Himmat and Humjoli £ 1000.
Lot Nº 18 – 11 LPs from films including Anand, Andaz and Main Sundar Hoon £ 1000.
Lot Nº72 – 42 LPs from films such as Aabroo. Daadi Maa and Palki £ 1200.
Lot Nº RS4 – 1 LP and 2 posters from Biwi O Biwi £ 1000.
Notes for Editors:
About Conferro Auctions
Conferro Auctions is a new London-based auction house specialising exclusively in Indian art and collectables. Conferro brings rare and unique items of Indian cultural heritage to the international art market. As an authority on Indian art and collectables, Conferro Auctions aims to strengthen the cultural ties between India and the global market. They lead existing and new collectors alike, into a burgeoning marketplace. Showcasing regional Indian art and collectables of the finest quality, Conferro’s establishment heralds a new era for the Indian art market. Passionate about preserving India’s rich cultural heritage for future generations, Conferro Auctions brings to London art and collectables from one of the world’s oldest civilisations.
About Sharan Seth | Founder & Director
Sharan Seth was born in New Delhi. He graduated with a Bachelors of Commerce from Delhi University and went on to complete a Masters in Finance and Management at the University of Essex. Seth is an art consultant who specialises in acquisitions and development of art banks, including purchasing Indian heritage works by Syed Haider Raza and Hemendra Majumdar. In his spare time, Seth collects Indian artefacts including one of his most treasured collections: old coins from the time of Akbar the Great, the third Emperor of the Mughal Dynasty in India. Seth is also an avid supporter of charity, contributing to the work of the Blind Relief Association – a school for the blind in New Delhi, India.
About Julian Farrow | Director
Julian Farrow started his career at Sotheby’s where he was instrumental in the creation of “Sotheby’s: Preferred” – a global reward programme created for the top clients of the auction house. Julian became the Worldwide Head of this exciting and innovative programme. Julian then set up his own art, luxury and lifestyle consultancy, working with diverse organisations appealing to the UHNW communities. Julian has assisted brands such as Garage CCC and Garage Magazine, KRUG Champagne House, Cartier, Pavilion of Art and Design, Ralph Lauren and Bulgari. In addition, Julian directed the Tretyakov Family’s Russian focused art gallery, Art Sensus. Julian is currently the Consultant Editor to the Mayfair Times and sits on the Membership Committee for both The Arts Club and Morton’s. Julian is also a founder and trustee of the children’s charity, The Childhood Trust.
About Children in Need
Children in Need is the BBC’s UK corporate charity. They provide grants to projects in the UK which focus on children and young people who are disadvantaged. They are local to people in all corners of the UK and support small and large organisations which empower children and extend their life choices. Their grant programmes.
