Unique Rarities Await Visitors at the Art and Antique Budapest Exhibition

Nearly 50 galleries will showcase thousands of works of art, including paintings, furniture, sculpture, jewelry, antique books, carpets, and weapons at the Art and Antique Budapest exhibition and fair, opening today at the Bálna Budapest.

Chief organizer Ádám Tausz relayed at a press conference on Wednesday that they had tried to include not only contemporary but also classical galleries with a wide range of exhibits. This year they have prepared an exceptionally wide range of works of art: in addition to fine art, the fair will also include antique books, jewelry, and furniture, and there will also be unique antiques from the 1300s.

According to Péter Nemes, owner of Nemes Gallery,

this year’s event will offer one of the most diverse and colorful selections compared to previous years.

He explained that the competition between galleries and market players is increasing. “The competition to acquire an object helps us to present a higher quality of material every year,” he said.

At the press conference, exhibitors’ representatives presented special objects from their selection. Lajos Moró, the owner of Moró Antik in Falk Miksa Street, Budapest, said that their stand will display the hussar saber of Károly Vécsey, Major General of the Defense Forces, martyr of Arad.

The saber was taken care of by the family after Károly Vécsey’s execution and was lent to the Military History Museum for an exhibition organized to mark the 150th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence (1848–1849). A month and a half ago the weapon was found again, said Moró.

György Márffy, head of the Central Antiquarian Book Fair, said that this year they will again take part in the fair with more than 100 antique books, manuscripts, and maps. At their stand, visitors can choose from a selection of signed books, antiquities, and old Hungarian prints from the 13th century to Attila József (Hungarian poet, 1905-1937).

He drew attention to a Latin prayer book from the late 1200s or early 1300s, which records the lives of saints and presents daily prayers. Additions to the beginning and end of the codex, handwritten on parchment, were added in the 15th century, he explained. According to Márffy, from a Hungarian point of view, it is particularly noteworthy that the prayer book also includes Elizabeth of Hungary among the saints, who died tragically young (1207-1231).

Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Purger Tamás