Black Rock Galleries is pleased to offer the estate of Sanford “Sandy” L. Batkin, which features a veritable time capsule collection of fine decorative smalls, an extensive Israeli art collection, and Judaica. Vintage, MCM, and antique furniture, sterling silver, and jewelry round out this single owner estate hailing from New Rochelle -- all carefully transported back to our Greenwich location.

PLEASE NOTE: The estate is donating 2% of the hammer price to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). BRG will match this donation.

Sandy, a Brooklyn-born boy who grew up in a charitable Jewish household was compelled as a young man to serve his country during World War II. He joined the Army Air Corp as an engineering officer (after receiving training at Yale) and served in the Pacific campaign. His military service and Jewish heritage undeniably influenced Sandy and were major factors in his strong support for the creation of the State of Israel, as well as many Jewish charitable organizations and causes including the UJA, Israel Bonds, the Jewish Museum, and David Yellen Teacher’s College.

He had an especially strong affinity for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and a deep friendship with one of its key attorneys, Arnold Forster, a civil rights and State of Israel advocate who fought against anti-Semitism and extremism for nearly six decades. Additionally, Sandy’s support of the Jewish State led to his continuous backing of the arts in Israel. In fact, for over four decades of making numerous trips to Israel, Sandy purchased the majority of the works of art in his estate collection directly from the artists themselves. A dynamic “Renaissance man” in every way, Sandy authored a book in his later years, “The Boy Behind the Door (How Salomon Kool Escaped the Nazis)” and worked well into his nineties.

With all of this in mind, the estate of Sanford L. Batkin is donating 2% of the hammer price from this estate auction to the ADL. Black Rock Galleries is pleased to match this donation. Happy bidding!