{"id":28540,"date":"2023-11-30T10:49:55","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T10:49:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propstore.com\/?p=28540"},"modified":"2023-12-04T10:04:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T10:04:51","slug":"emlauk23-auction-round-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propstore.com\/blog\/emlauk23-auction-round-up\/","title":{"rendered":"AUCTION ROUND UP | Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, London 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Propstore\u2019s annual UK live auction is always a big event. But this year, it felt bigger than ever. Taking place over four days (9-12 November) at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, with almost 1,800 lots on offer, it took an impressive \u00a313 million (over \u00a3500,000 more than the previous year), not including buyer\u2019s premiums. But it wasn\u2019t just about the numbers. It was about the people, too. And one person in particular really made an impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

To open the bidding on his 160-piece collection, none other than Anthony Daniels turned up in person. Yes, C-3PO himself, the only actor to appear in all nine episodes of Star Wars<\/em>\u2019 Skywalker saga (while also popping up in Rogue One<\/em> and Solo<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anthony Daniels pictured with the iconic C-3PO head which went under the hammer at this years London EMLA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe atmosphere was so electric when the Anthony Daniels lots came up on Day One,\u201d recalls Propstore consignments administrator Ibi Faraj. \u201cIt was such a special treat to have Anthony himself surprise everyone by introducing his content. There were so many shocked faces when he walked into the bidding room!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniels was certainly the star turn of the event, and his collection \u2013 which even included some pieces of the Millennium Falcon he\u2019d rescued from an Elstree Studios bonfire \u2013 proved immensely popular; the top seller of the auction was a screen-matched light-up C-3PO head, which sold for \u00a3687,500 (including buyer\u2019s premium).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SOLD FOR \u00a3687,500<\/strong>
STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE (1977)<\/strong>
Anthony Daniels Collection: Screen-matched Light-up C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) Head<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The one-time protocol droid also appeared on BBC Breakfast<\/em> ahead of the auction, talking up the auction while reflecting on his cosmic career, and he also spoke to BBC News. \u201cI realised I had these items and they\u2019re not unloved but they are unlooked at,\u201d he told them, explaining why he was auctioning off his collection. \u201cWill I feel sad to part with them? No. I will enjoy the fact people will cherish and display them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Daniels was certainly the main attraction, there was far more to the 2023 Entertainment and Memorabilia Live Auction. \u201cMany top lots exceeded their estimated values,\u201d says Propstore founder Stephen Lane, \u201cwith standout performances from James Bond, Star Wars<\/em> and Marvel items.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SOLD FOR \u00a3537,500<\/strong>
STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE (1977)<\/strong>
Screen-matched TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Aside from Threepio\u2019s gleaming head, the top sellers included Indiana Jones\u2019 iconic bullwhip from 1984\u2019s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom<\/em>, which sold for \u00a3287,000 (including b.p.), and a screen-matched hero TIE Fighter Pilot helmet from Star Wars: A New Hope<\/em>, which fetched \u00a3537,000 (including b.p.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SOLD FOR \u00a3287,500<\/strong>
INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984)<\/strong>
Indiana Jones’ (Harrison Ford) Bullwhip<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Another impressive collection came courtesy of late Blade Runner<\/em> archivist Geoff Hutchins, accounting for 55 lots, which made it the biggest Blade Runner<\/em> collection ever to come to market. This included a costume display for snake-charming replicant Zhora (Joanna Cassidy), a light-up fluorescent street umbrella, and Rick Deckard\u2019s (Harrison Ford) production-made white-gripped stunt blaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Items from the Geoff Hutchins Blade Runner collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Then there were the lots from the world of rock and pop, with this auction being the second to incorporate music memorabilia. A platinum disc for George Michael\u2019s slow-dance classic \u201cCareless Whisper\u201d sold for \u00a333,750 (including b.p.), and Michael\u2019s La Rocka Jacket, screen-matched to the 1986 \u201cI Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)\u201d video, took \u00a393,750 (including b.p.). Meanwhile, Michael Jackson\u2019s black-and-white leather jacket \u2013 as seen in the Pepsi New Generation \u201cStreet\u201d music video from 1984 \u2013 sold for \u00a3250,000 (including b.p.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Items from the music collection, which went under the hammer on day 2 of the auction. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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While many bids were placed online and remotely, there were more people at the auction in person than ever before. \u201cOn the first day, there were so many people it was standing room only,\u201d says marketing manager Miranda McCabe. \u201cIt was so nice to see so many collectors and film fans in one spot, really enjoying the auction and the intense bidding wars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A busy crowd on Day 1 of the auction<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The most memorable of those bidding wars were fought over a French guard helmet from Monty Python and the Holy Grail<\/em> (1975), which attracted 31 bids and sold for \u00a350,000 (including b.p.), 1,600% above estimate; an Anthony Daniels-autographed C-3PO dark-red-arm Lego minifigure display, which sold for \u00a35,625 (including b.p.), 4,500% above estimate; and most impressively, M\u2019s red telephone from the James Bond series, which drew 42 bids and sold for \u00a3150,000 (including b.p.), 4,000% above estimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SOLD FOR \u00a3150,000<\/strong>
JAMES BOND: VARIOUS PRODUCTIONS<\/strong>
Peter Nelson Collection: M’s (Bernard Lee) Red Telephone<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cI was internet clerking on Saleroom,\u201d recalls photography manager Sarah Sorkin, \u201cand at one point, watching the crowd during a big bidding war, it was like they were at Wimbledon watching the tennis, with their heads moving to the auctioneer and back to me and back again. It was brilliant!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As ever, the attention drawn by the auction extended far beyond the event itself. In an exciting and busy year for press coverage, Propstore was visited by Richard Arnold for a report on Good Morning Britain<\/em>, during which he happily strapped on Captain America\u2019s shield. In addition to Anthony Daniels, Stephen Lane appeared on BBC Breakfast<\/em> to present other movie lots, including Freddie Krueger\u2019s razor-blade glove from A Nightmare on Elm Street<\/em> (1984); \u201cWe\u2019ve had a real surge of interest in horror collectors over the past few years,\u201d Lane noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stephen Lane with Richard Arnold from Good Morning Britain.
Image taken as a screengrab from Good Morning Britain <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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There was also a story on This Morning<\/em> about the music memorabilia strand, for which director of music Mark Hochman introduced the aforementioned Michael Jackson leather jacket and George Michael items, along with Amy Winehouse\u2019s hairpiece, John Lennon\u2019s belt buckle, and other pop-themed lots. Elsewhere, stories ran on ITV News, Lorraine<\/em>, Fox Business and Forbes, with coverage stretching across Thailand, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, Canada and Poland, among other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mark Hochman on This Morning with some of this years music memorabilia
Image taken as a screengrab from This Morning<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Propstore also organised its own build-up events in support of the auction. On 16 August, Watford\u2019s Vue Cinema hosted a special screening of Ridley Scott\u2019s seminal sci-fi masterpiece Blade Runner<\/em> (the superior Director\u2019s Cut, of course), which was preceded by a preview exhibition of the Geoff Hutchins Collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo from the Blade Runner Event at the VUE in Watford, August 16th<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Then, from 3 October, Propstore opened the doors of its UK facility in Hertfordshire to allow potential bidders to get up close and personal with the auction\u2019s highlights. There was a huge demand for tours and press filming during this time, and those who couldn\u2019t come along were able to experience the selected lots via a 360-degree online preview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exhibition on show at Propstore London offices in Rickmansworth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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On 28 October, Propstore was invited to Kingvention \u2013 \u201cthe Ultimate Michael Jackson Event\u201d \u2013 to showcase its Michael Jackson lots, including Jackson\u2019s \u201cSpeed Demon\u201d Spike costume from the 1988 movie Moonwalker<\/em>, his black-and-white leather jacket, and a framed 1970 concert poster for the Jackson 5. Hundreds of fans visited the booth, and Propstore staff had a great time talking with them and experiencing their enthusiasm for these precious pop artefacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Michael Jackson memorabilia on show at Kingvention, October 28th <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Finally, on the first day of the auction itself \u2013 9 November \u2013 Propstore held a pre-drinks event at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly in London. The room was crowded, a palpable sense of anticipation building as the countdown to the auction launch began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was really great to be back in London and see collectors and bidders face-to-face, and showcase all the hard work the Propstore team has done over the last year,\u201d says operations manager Viki Merry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A busy pre-drinks event hosted by Propstore at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly in London.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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That hard work certainly paid off, and the team\u2019s recollections give more of a sense of excitement than exhaustion after the four days of bidding were finally over. \u201cWhat an incredible event,\u201d says Lane. \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled by its phenomenal success.\u201d Director of operations Sian Taylor, meanwhile, became so wrapped up in the joy and drama of it all, she lost her sense of time. \u201cThe 10th<\/sup> London Entertainment Memorabilia Auction was utterly exhilarating,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was four epic days of non-stop action. One day, I didn\u2019t even notice it getting into the wee-small hours of the following morning!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From build-up to execution, it was, all agree, a resounding success. Roll on 2024\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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