Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum, Art museum in District VI, Budapest, Hungary.
The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum was an art museum in Budapest that displayed roughly 1000 artifacts from eleven Southeast Asian regions in a two-story building on Andrássy Avenue. The collection featured objects created across the region using diverse craft techniques and religious purposes.
The museum was established in 2011 and was based on the personal collection of István Zelnik, a former diplomat who gathered over 50,000 artifacts during his 45-year diplomatic career. This extensive collection became available for public viewing after his retirement from service.
The collection displays gold masks, Buddha statues, and ceremonial vessels that reflect the artistic traditions of Cham, Khmer, and Javanese peoples. These objects allow visitors to grasp the spiritual and aesthetic meaning these cultures placed on their sacred arts.
The museum was located at Andrássy út 110 and featured a spacious sculpture garden with exotic plants and a teahouse. Visitors should note that the venue permanently closed its doors in autumn 2014.
The attached garden was not merely ornamental but a functioning space where visitors could participate in authentic tea ceremonies. This connection between art collection and lived practice made the museum a place for direct cultural experience.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
