Busy May art auction season gets underway

The auction calendar in Budapest is split into two seasons, spring and fall, and the big items and big money change hands at the end of each. This month of auctions is the culmination of the spring season and all the major galleries and auction houses have been saving their best items till last. The month of May offers a mouthwatering combination of genuine bargains, glitz and glamour and all the thrill of the chase.

The biggest names likely to grab the headlines, as usual, are the Kieselbach Gallery and the Virág Judit Gallery (formerly Mű-terem), which hold their auctions on May 11 and 18, respectively. This is where the most prized items will be bought and sold, with at least one painting every season exceeding the €500,000 barrier. In December 2006, Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka's Rendezvous fetched Ft 230 million (€890,000) at the Kieselbach auction, exceeding Judit Virag's previous record by Ft 10 million.

Even if these figures are slightly outside the average buyer's price range, the auctions are still worth visiting, says Andrea Megyes of Budapest-based Taylor Art Advisors, which offer foreign buyers specialist insight into the Hungarian art market. "The Kieselbach auctions in particular are surrounded by a frenzy of anticipation that tends to drive up prices. There is a certain prestige attached to buying art at these auctions, which makes them quite an occasion," she says.

The auction is traditionally held at the Vígszínház and attended by a glittering mix of big money buyers and socialites. The next big auction of the season is organized by auctioneer Judit Virág. "She always brings together an excellent collection of 20th century Hungarian work and is a very professional auctioneer," Megyes says .

For those with an eye for a bargain - or just looking for a nice painting or piece of furniture for the home - Taylor Art Advisors recommends the Nagyházi, Polgár and Abigail auctions. One of Nagyházi's specialties is furniture, while Polgár offers some exquisite watches and jewelry. "These auctions are not quite as high profile, but there are some really interesting items on offer," Megyes says, before adding, "Abigail always comes up with some remarkable and yet reasonably-priced works by less-known Hungarian artists."

The Caboodle.hu events listing contains all the major auctions taking place in Budapest in the May season. By clicking through to the gallery's auction catalogue, you can browse through images of all the items on offer. Most Hungarian auction houses use a system of minimum bids, so the values given are starting prices before addition of the auction house commission.

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