Dealer guiding service:

No one knows Hungary's art and antique market like we do. We're on a first name basis with nearly every dealer in Hungary (ask them if you don't believe us), and we generally always know who's got what. So if you're in the antique trade and want to come to Hungary to acquire inventory, we can show you the best shops and the best bargains both in odd corners of Budapest and distant countryside locations.
We charge 25/hour or 10% of purchases, whichever is higher, plus expenses.
The service includes translation and negotiating with the seller, keeping accounts of all purchases, taking photos of every item, and handling payment transactions.


Auction service:

Many dealers also want to take advantage of the numerous painting and furniture auctions that take place throughout the year. Just let us know what you want to bid on, and we'll send you the catalogue, review the items of interest with our own critical eyes and then bid on them for you. And, of course, ship it to you .
Rates for this service are the same as for dealer guiding: We charge 200/auction or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is higher. We also charge additionally for the catalogue and overnight courier service .


Finding service:

If you are looking for certain types of art objects, then let us know what you're looking for and we'll scour the shops and markets of Hungary to find the item for you. We are specialists in finding Baroque, Biedermeier, Art Nouveau, Art Deco antique furniture. Also contact us if you are looking for Hungary's famous name porcelain manufacturers Herend and Zsolnay as well as original oil paintings and antique oriental carpets. All that you will have to do is to send us some information by email and we'll post pictures of prospective items to you by email, and offer you a single price including shipping .


Restoration:

First European Shipping provides extremely high-quality restoration and
repair services for all types of antiques and fine art, including:

• All types of work for polished furniture, including traditional French
  polish, replacement of damaged veneer, and any other types of repair or
  restoration
  
• Beeswax treatment for stripped pine or other rustic furniture
  
• Regilding of frames or decorative details
  
• Repair of clocks
  
• Restoration of porcelain
  
• Restoration of paintings (restorers are affiliated with the Hungarian National Gallery)
  
• Retouching of painted details on peasant furniture
  
• Replacement of frames, hardware, locks, keys, glass or other details
  
• Restoration of upholstery, tapestries and carpets
  
• Fumigation for woodworm
  
• Rechroming of Art Deco or Bauhaus furniture and decorative objects
  
• Expert opinions of paintings, furniture or art objects either through our own qualified staff, or from experts affiliated with the Hungarian National Gallery, Fine Arts Museum, Ethnographic Museum or Applied Arts Museum.

We organize all restorations and repairs and include the costs in your final bill; it's part of our philosophy of providing our clients easy access to a full range of services from start to finish.


Reproductions:

Perhaps you found the Biedermeier dining set of your dreams here, but it only has six chairs instead of the eight you needed? We'll have flawless reproductions in the wood and style of your choice made at a very reasonable price.


Research and appraisal service:

Among our staff are a certified furniture and carpet appraiser, a certified painting appraiser, and a professional with an academic background in art history and European cultural history. We are qualified to provide official letters of appraisal and certificates of antiquity for client purchases.

Furthermore, we know that our clients like to have detailed background information on their purchases. This is why we also provide primary and secondary source research - whether the topic is specific, such as a single painting or artist, or general, such as a movement, style or ethnographic area. We can carry out research in several languages and have a substantial library as well as access to some of the most important collections in Central Europe. Our research and writing fee, including translation, is 25/hour.