The V.L. auction broke all previous interest records and directed true international attention to our auction. Over 38,000 online views came from many parts of the world, with significant French and English presence. A new era begins in the life of the Földváry Auction.
The V.L. auction has concluded – an event that has garnered exceptional attention not only domestically but internationally as well. The activity experienced in the online space has opened a new era in the history of our auction house: such volume and proportion of foreign interest has never surrounded our auction, and it can be considered unique even in comparison to other domestic events.
The communication surrounding the auction was deliberate and extensive. Together with defining portals of the domestic art scene, we delivered our newsletter to nearly twenty thousand Hungarian addresses and directly informed over 1300 foreign collectors and professional partners. We reached out with personal letters to significant auction houses, castles, and interior design studios in Western Europe, offering the pieces of the collection for their attention. Foreign auction portals also helped enhance international visibility while we supported the most important appearances abroad with targeted social media campaigns aimed specifically at audiences interested in auctions.
In International Spotlight
The numbers of interest speak for themselves.
A total of 38,394 specific clicks were recorded for auction lots.
- Hungary: 37.4% – 14,352 clicks
- France: 28.4% – 10,894 clicks
- England: 24% – 9,232 clicks
- Additionally, collectors and enthusiasts from six other countries followed the auction closely.
It is particularly noteworthy that nearly two-thirds of the clicks came from abroad. This is not merely a statistical figure but a clear indication: the material and spirit of the V.L. auction can be interpreted, is relevant, and is inspiring in an international context.
Favorable Starting Prices, Conscious Collector Decisions
We launched the auction – in our belief – under extremely favorable conditions: we set only a 10% handling fee on our procurement prices, creating an opportunity for new collectors to join and engage with the international market.
Despite this – or perhaps precisely because of the conscious consideration of the collector circle – ultimately, 20 lots found new owners. This number may seem modest at first glance given the outstanding interest, but it is important to recognize that these special bronze sculpture artifacts already address an extremely narrow, specialized collector segment. The presence of classical sculptures in modern interiors is no longer self-evident today, and selling them in the domestic market is considered – as many experts say – particularly difficult, sometimes almost an impossible task.
The international competition also showcased that the term “favorable price” is always relative: the values estimated by our experts were also a subject of serious consideration in the global market, unfortunately, this became evident due to the lack of bids. After all, in the end, every work is worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it.
Still, for us, the success of the auction is not measurable solely by the number of sold items. We are delighted and proud to see that several pieces from the collection will find a home in the Földváry Castle in the future – in a worthy environment where their story can continue to live and gain new meaning.
