Who We Are
From humble beginnings in 1964, the House of Todywallas' has grown to become one of India's largest numismatic firms and the country's first and largest numismatic auction house.
The firm is instrumental in establishing market trends; and it has been our continuous endeavor to create value and interest for the hobby.
Team Todywalla is headed by Mr. Farokh S. Todywalla, a pioneer in the field, who is very much a prominent part of the global Indian numismatic scenario and is actively involved with many national and international associations. Some of his noteworthy accomplishments and affiliations are:
- Founder and Convener of the "S. M. Shukla Memorial Coin Day" popularly called the "Bombay Coin Fair", regarded as the country's largest Numismatic Trade fair.
- President of the Mumbai Coin Society.
- Committee member of the Gujarat Coin Society.
- Life Member Numismatic Society of India, BHU.
- Advisor to the Dinesh Modi Numismatic Institute and Museum, Mumbai.
- The immediate past secretary, South Asia region, of the Oriental Numismatic Society, London.
- Member, American Numismatic Association.
- Member, International Banknote Society, London.
- Member, Orders & Medals Research Society, London.
More importantly
Mr. Todywalla has acted in an advisory capacity to many famous collections and enjoys an impeccable reputation in the numismatic field.
Mr. Todywalla is backed by a dedicated team of professionals from diverse fields, integral to the firm.
Malcolm and Kaizad represent the new generation in the business and Malcolm is instrumental in spear heading many of the firm's successes.
Farokh S. Todywalla is a pioneer in the field of Indian Numismatics. As the founder and convener of the largest and longest-running coin show in India, he is actively involved with many national and international associations. He is the President of the Mumbai Coin Society and the past secretary, South Asia region, of the Oriental Numismatic Society, London. He has contributed to museums set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) & the Dinesh Modi Numismatic Institute and Museum at the Mumbai University.
An Antiquity licence holder for over 20 years, with Farokh's vast knowledge of the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) laws and the experience of conducting over 200 auctions, this maiden auction of Classical Indian Art is a natural progression.
Malcolm F. Todywalla has done his M.A. in Numismatics and Archaeology from the Mumbai University. With over two decades of experience in conducting auctions, he heads the numismatic business at Todywalla Auctions. He has conducted few charity auctions including the Virat Kohli foundation in association with Smile Foundation. With a wide- ranging exposure from coins to collectibles since early days and with a keen sense of aesthetics, it is Malcolm's initiative to foray into the Classical Indian realm.
His digital numismatic auction template is widely used in the field. He is currently writing a book on a North American numismatic collection in an Indian museum.
External Specialist Consultant for Classical Indian Art - Auction 1
Graham Shaw is a Senior Research Fellow of the Institute of English Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London. In 2010 he retired from the British Library, having been Head of the Library's Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections for over twenty years. He graduated in Hindi and Sanskrit in 1969 from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. In 1974 he joined the British Library's Department of Oriental Manuscripts and Printed Books as Curator of North Indian Languages, responsible for the collections of manuscripts as well as printed books in Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya and Panjabi. For the past thirty years he has researched the history of the book in South Asia, especially printing and publishing from the 16th to the 20th centuries.
Mitche Kunzman has had a decades-long distinguished career as an internationally-known specialist, curator and certified appraiser in the field of the Rajput and Islamic paintings of India - with clients worldwide including museums and major international auction houses. As a consultant he has provided significant expertise and has authored cataloging in the field - beginning in the early 1980's where he acted as lead consultant for auctions of Indian paintings at Phillips, Son and Neale during their sales of Asian art in New York City.
Vijay Sharma a 1990 recipient of the National Award of Master Craftsman in Basohli painting, worked as a Senior artist in the Bhuri Singh Museum, Chamba. Apart from his artistic skills, he is also a prolific art critic and art historian. He has contributed several research articles in prestigious art journals like MARG, authored and edited many books on Pahari miniature painting and other Himalayan arts. Vijay Sharma is the recipient of several awards and honours including the National Kalidas Award in 2011 by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. In 2012, the Government of India bestowed on him 'Padma Shri' and later that year he was awarded Honorary Doctorate by the Himachal Pradesh University.
Arthur Millner is a consultant in Islamic, Indian, Himalayan and South-East Asian art, based in London. He read Classics at Queens' College, Cambridge and later received an MA in South Asian Studies at the SOAS, University of London. He started his career at Sotheby's and later had a gallery in London. He has spent the last fifteen years working independently advising collectors and auction rooms, as well as lecturing and writing. He has written two books: Damascus Tiles (2015) and, most recently, Indian Tiles (2021).
Peter Blohm formerly a teacher, has a successful dealership in England. He had been collecting Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian art since 1994. In 1997 he achieved an Honours Degree in History of Art & South Asian Studies (De Montfort University, Leicester, UK). His acquisition of substantial numbers of Indian miniatures alongside associated publications now make up a sizeable private research library. Along the way making substantial loans to Leicester Museum. In 2011, his essay was published in Marg Publications, Led up the Garden Path. The Rose Garden Hidden by History.
What We Aim
The objective of Todywalla Auctions in a broad sense is to act as a conduit for your numismatic assets. On the one hand we partner with you and help you build a meaningful and world class collection of coins, medals and bank notes, and on the other hand, we help you in realizing the best possible return on your numismatic investment when you consign your collections for auction with us. All in all we present a one stop shop for any and all of your numismatic needs.
In the absence of a formal numismatic market it our endeavor as an auctioneer to create and perpetuate a public and transparent platform for collectors and traders alike; with a singular focus on quality! Quality, not only in the type of material offered but also in the range of services offered. "Customer satisfaction" is our motto; while quality and client confidentiality are the cornerstones of our business policy. To accentuate these values each item offered by Todywalla Auctions is backed by our "lifetime money back guarantee" for its genuineness.
Corporate Social Responsibility
But that is not all; we at Todywalla Auctions are aware of our social responsibility and strongly believe in giving back to the numismatic community. Each year we utilize a part of our revenue to support other numismatic organizations and their activities. In addition, we run an informal scholarship program for numismatic study and research.
Onwards
There is no doubt that our success is due to the continued support, encouragement and advice, of our dear patrons and will remain indispensable in our onward journey together
It is our continuous endeavor to offer the best platform to our patrons, on which we have delivered, and we promise to continue to raise standards and set new benchmarks of transparency and efficiency with each subsequent offering from Todywalla Auctions.
As an ongoing endeavor we are constantly upgrading our services to offer our patrons an easier way to interact and transact with Todywalla Auctions, and provide a formidable research and study tool through our website.
Please feel free to write or call any of us with any suggestions or proposals you may have, to help us improve our service.
We at Todywalla Auctions are counting on your continued support and renewed zeal.
Our oath
It is our oath that we all at Todywalla Auctions will do everything in our means and beyond to fulfill our fiduciary duty and our obligations to the fullest satisfaction of all our patrons.
Happy collecting!
