Each year, some 800 antique thefts in Hungary cost collectors, museums and churches about one billion forints. The scale of this criminal activity is exceeded only by the illegal trade in arms and drugs. Fortunately, Hungarian authorities have been adept at recovering many stolen works, some of which are showcased in the exhibition at the Örökség Galéria (Heritage Gallery).
The items on display include the Vizsoly Bible, the first printed Hungarian language Bible, stolen from a church in the village of Vizsoly in 2002, a cache of art stolen from the Jewish museum in 1993 and paintings taken from Budapest?s Kiscelli Museum. Together with the objects, the museum presents the stories of their theft and recovery.
The exhibition, entitled ?Art Treasures Travelled the (Under)World ? 15 Years of Uncovered Crimes?, is open from March 28 to May 28, 2006.
The Örökség Galéria, is located at 1 Táncsics Mihály u., in Budapest?s Castle District. The museum is open every day of the week from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Source: Múlt-kor
