Crime of the CenturiesTomb raiders, crooked art dealers, and museum curators fed billionaire Michael Steinhardt’s addiction to antiquities. Many also happened to be stolen.
Steinhardt, Lauder — But Not Picasso — Help Set Art Record
Some masterpieces were missing from the record-setting Christie’s Impressionist auction last night, but a slew of boldfaced names showed up to bid, undaunted.
The night ended with $491 million in sales, making it the biggest art auction ever, and paddles were waving right out of the gate. Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Lauria outbid several opponents for lot No. 5, a Piet Mondrian study for “Broadway Boogie Woogie” that went for $3.3 million. Michael Steinhardt, seated with his wife, Judy, outbid powerhouse art dealer Jeffrey Deitch for another Mondrian study just a minute later, paying $2.1 million. And that was just the beginning.
