About us

About us

Our History

Auction House Zezula s.r.o. was founded in 2002, building on the long-standing gallery and trading tradition established by its founder, Tomáš Zezula.

The history of the Papilio brand, and of our work in this field, began in 1989 in Brno, where a restoration studio was established first, followed in 1990 by a shop specialising in art, antiques and collectables. The domain papilio.cz was registered in 1995, and we still run and continue to develop our website there today. In 1996, we extended our activities to Prague as well.

Our original trading and gallery business gradually grew into a specialist auction house. After we began holding auctions in 2002, our gallery activities in Prague were progressively scaled back. In light of long-term changes in the business environment, the growth of our own online platform for holding online auctions, and the changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, we permanently closed our fixed gallery premises in Prague in 2021.

Our activities then became concentrated once again at the company's headquarters in Brno. Alongside our saleroom and online auctions, we have also strengthened our private sales service for individual collectors and interested clients.

Today

Auction House Zezula now holds both saleroom and online auctions of fine art, antiques and decorative arts. We also provide professional valuations, and the inventorying and documentation of collections, together with auction sales, consignment sales and direct private sales.

We work with the owners of individual objects, collectors, heirs, institutions, owners of historic properties and administrators of large collections. Depending on the nature of the items in question, their condition, provenance and the current state of the market, we recommend the most suitable course of action, and either carry it out ourselves or arrange it through partner organisations. This includes conservation, restoration, expert appraisals, presentation, auction sale, private sale and consignment sale, among other services.

Specialisation and Results

Over more than 35 years in the field, we have handled the sale of important works in areas including fine and applied art, antiques, Czech glass, Asian art and curios, historical furniture, photography, rare books, early printed works, maps and atlases, prints, manuscripts, bibliophile editions and other works on paper. Some of our record results have even been cited in academic texts as notable milestones in the development of prices on the Czech market (is.muni.cz).

Our auctions have produced significant sales and record results, particularly in fine and applied art, antiques and Czech glass. Thanks to our long-standing specialist expertise and our contacts with renowned institutions and major private collections around the world, we have also achieved outstanding results selling Czechoslovak photography, modern bibliophile editions, books and early printed works.

Our success in this field is now the achievement of the second generation of the family. The combination of founder Tomáš's experience and expertise with the knowledge and enthusiasm of his son, Antonín Zezula (both graduates of the Department of Art History at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University), is the best possible guarantee of a consistently professional and responsible approach to our clients and to the confidential information that comes with this line of work.

According to an article by Jan Skřivánek, "Statisícové fotografie" ("Six-Figure Photographs"), published in Art+Antiques magazine, issue 11/2016, pp. 20–22, roughly half of all photographs sold on the Czech market for more than CZK 100,000 during that period were sold through our auction house.

Other notable results include the sale of extensive collections and thematic groups of works – for example, the auctions of the collections of Alexander Skalický, Dr Boček and many others (artplus.cz).

Publishing Activities

Auction House Zezula is also involved in publishing and cultural activities. Among other publications and specialist texts, we played a significant part in producing the book Útěcha bydlením ("Consolation by Living"): Život soukromého sběratele za železnou oponou ("The Life of a Private Collector Behind the Iron Curtain").

The book explores life and collecting during the era of the Iron Curtain, documenting a major private collection as well as its wider historical and cultural context. It was awarded first place in the specialist literature category of The Most Beautiful Czech Books of the Year 2022 competition.

We are also regularly featured in leading podcasts, periodicals and magazines, where commentary and interviews with the two protagonists of the auction house introduce both specialist and general audiences to their views on developments within the field (cyrrus) (estate).

Auction for Fenix

We regard supporting public-benefit and charitable projects as an important part of what we do.

Tomáš Zezula was there at the birth of the Auction for Fenix project and helped shape its concept. As auctioneer and a member of the organising team, he has long taken part in the charity auction of paintings by children and young artists, the proceeds of which support the services provided by ParaCENTRUM Fenix to people with spinal cord injuries (Fenix).

The project brings together children and young artists, an expert jury, the public and a charity auction. The final collection of paintings is drawn from works by young artists from the Czech Republic and abroad, and is then offered at the charity auction, with the proceeds donated to services for ParaCENTRUM Fenix's clients.

The most recent edition, held in 2025, raised CZK 590,600, beating the previous record of CZK 559,000. The proceeds go towards rehabilitation and other services for ParaCENTRUM Fenix's clients. More than 1,000 artworks have already been submitted for the 2026 edition, from which the jury will choose the final 70 to go under the hammer, as in previous years.

Contact Details

Auction House Zezula s.r.o. Hlinky 142c 603 00 Brno Czech Republic

Phone: +420 543 215 704 Mobile: +420 774 442 848 Email: [email protected]

Company ID (IČO): 01399969 File No.: C 77971, Regional Court in Brno

We are open throughout the exhibition period preceding each auction, when the lots for sale are on view. Outside these hours, visits can be arranged by emailing [email protected].

Items bought at auction may be collected during the following working week, Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 17:00. After that, collection is by prior arrangement only.

Please send offers of items for auction to [email protected].

Banking Details: Fio banka, a.s., V Celnici 1028/10, 117 21 Prague 1, Czech Republic SWIFT/BIC: FIOBCZPPXXX, IBAN: CZ5220100000002900387617 CZK account (Czech Republic): 2900387617/2010 EUR account (Slovak Republic): 2900387617/8330

Online Catalogue: www.papilio.cz www.aukcni-dum-zezula.cz

Last updated: 2026-08-10 12:59:47