By HOLLY McKENNA
June 8, 2008
Everything must go!
Hundreds of pieces from the disgraced Salander-O'Reilly Galleries, which filed for bankruptcy under a cloud of corruption, were auctioned off at a small upstate gallery yesterday.
The fire sale of antique European furniture amassed by fallen art dealer Lawrence Salander attracted about 300 collectors to Stair Galleries in Hudson, including 50 international art lovers who bid by phone.
"While the circumstances of this sale are not ideal, the property is still quite amazing," said Stair Galleries, which was directed by a court official to liquidate the inventory.
Salander was not present.
"We have followed him and his pieces with interest," said art dealer Susan Baker.
Salander and his wife were ordered by a judge in April to surrender control of their finances to an independent trustee, who in turn assigned Stair the bulk of the collection.
The once-prominent Upper East Side dealer filed for bankruptcy last November after mounting lawsuits by angry creditors, including tennis star John McEnroe and Robert De Niro, who claimed they consigned pieces to Salander's gallery but never saw a dime.
Additional reporting by Christine Caulfield
