Blowout Albright-Knox Sale: Ex-Director Buck Belatedly Bucks the Disposals

Robert Buck, where were you when we really needed you?

According to this afternoon's report by the Buffalo News of today's wildly successful (if thoroughly depressing) sale at Sotheby's of Chinese objects from the Albright-Knox Gallery's collection, the museum's former director finally weighed in, just a little too late to do any good. Buck is today quoted describing the disposals by his former institution as "definitely a public loss, and I think beyond the institution, much of it portends to be a loss for public access."

Colin Dabkowski reports:

Buck and others have said that many of the prized [deaccessioned] items had been permanently on display as recently as the late '90s.

"I think people are being blindsided by the value of contemporary art," Buck said, adding that the today's museums have confused priorities bound to the ever-escalating price of modern art.

This from a museum professional who was very much involved in the contemporary art scene during his tenure in Buffalo and subsequent directorship at the Brooklyn Museum.

Oh, you wanted to know the results of the sale?

The museum's 23 Chinese objects were hammered down for $16.1 million , against a presale estimate of merely $5.5-8.8 million. (Including the buyer's commission, the total was $18,358,000, .) The museum had originally estimated it would net $15 million from all 207 objects it will offer in a series of auctions. Guess they're going to buy a lot of contemporary art.

For Bloomberg's report on today's auction by Linda Sandler, go here.

Read 'em and weep.