* 14 – 15 November, Westbury Gallery, Westbury Hotel, Mayfair, W1
* Preview of upcoming Vintage Bollywood Memorabilia auction
* 2013 marks 100 years of Bollywood
* Vintage memorabilia from the greatest Bollywood films of all time
* 150 lots including vintage LPs, film banners, Bollywood posters and gramophones
London, UK, October 30, 2013 – Celebrating 100 years of Bollywood, Conferro Auctions is hosting a special preview of its upcoming inaugural auction of Vintage Bollywood Memorabilia on 14 – 15 November at the Westbury Gallery, Westbury Hotel, Mayfair, W1.
The auction features collectables such as LPs, film banners and Bollywood 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 150 lots include vintage LPs, banners, synopses, posters, lobby cards and gramophones from the last 100 years of Bollywood history, which will be auctioned on 29 November.
Bollywood has become one of the world’s largest film industries since the debut of its first official film on 3 May 1913, Raja Harishchandra by Dadasaheb Phalke. Producing some 1,000 films a year (twice the annual output of Hollywood), the stars of its silver screen are known the world over.
As reported by The Telegraph, the UK is home to the largest audience for Bollywood films outside of India, contributing 15-20 per cent of the industry’s profits.
Says Conferro’s Director Sharan Seth, “With Bollywood such an ingrained part of our cultural identity and the timely centenary of Bollywood film, our first auction reflects India’s rich and vibrant history and artistic practices”.
Dr Anna Morcom, Senior Lecturer at Royal Holloway University adds, “Since the 1990s, Bollywood has gone global on a new level, embraced enthusiastically by the Indian diaspora and through them, has gained a presence in the mainstream of US and UK culture”.
For a full programme of activities, please see below:
Listings information
Conferro Auctions | Vintage Bollywood Memorabilia auction
Public viewing
Thursday 14 November (11:00 – 18:00)
Friday 15 November (11:00 – 18:00)
Thursday 28 November (11:00 – 18:00)
Friday 29 November (11:00 – 14:00)
Bollywood retrospective | A journey through 100 years of Indian cinema | Talk & Tour (30 mins)
Friday 15 November (12:00 – 12:30, 15:00 – 15:30, 16:00 – 16:30, 17:00 – 17:30)
Thursday 28 November (12:00 – 12:30, 15:00 – 15:30)
Free admission. Limited availability. Book with: Ashta Doyle: ashta@curzonpr.com | +44 (0)20 7399 2435
Auction
Friday 29 November (14:00 – 18:00)
Auction Registration (14:00)
Auction Start (15:00)
Auction End (18:00)
Location
Westbury Gallery, Westbury Hotel, Conduit Street, London, W1S 2YF
Nearest tube stations: Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus
For general enquires contact Shivani Mehra: shivani@conferroauctions.com
SAVE THE DATE | Press invitations
Thursday 14 November
Bollywood press brunch (11:30 – 13:00)
Bollywood press retrospective talk (17:00 – 18:00)
Private view drinks reception (18:00 – 21:00)
For interviews with the Director of Conferro Auctions – Julian Farrow, Founder of Conferro Auctions – Sharan Seth, Bollywood expert – Manoj Nair or for high resolution images of auction lots, please contact Daniel Cinna at Curzon PR daniel@curzonpr.com | +44 (0)20 7399 2437
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 an international market. As an authority on Indian art and collectables, Conferro Auctions aims to strengthen the cultural ties between India and the global market and lead existing and new collectors alike, into a burgeoning market. 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 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 very top clients of the auction house. Farrow became the Worldwide Head of this exciting and innovative programme. Farrow then set up his own art, luxury and lifestyle consultancy, working with diverse organisations appealing to the UHNW communities. Farrow has assisted brands such as Garage CCC and Garage Magazine, KRUG Champagne House, Cartier, Christie’s, Pavilion of Art and Design, Ralph Lauren and Bulgari. In addition, Farrow directed the Tretyakov Family’s Russian focused art gallery, Art Sensus. Farrow is currently the Consultant Editor to the Mayfair Times and sits on the Membership Committee for both The Arts Club and Morton’s. Farrow is also a founder and trustee of the children’s charity, The Childhood Trust.
Contact:
Daniel Cinna
Curzon PR
28 Grosvenor Street
London W1K 4QR
+44 (0) 20 7399 2435
info@curzonpr.com
http://www.curzonpr.com
