LOCAL : Gallery Owner Who Disappeared With 1,000 Art Works Sought

An arrest warrant was issued today for a Westside auction-house owner who disappeared in March with more than 1,000 art works belonging to his clients.

Police said that many more art works may be missing from Richard Esterhazy Galleries, 926 N. La Cienega, making this the largest art theft--in terms of volume--in Los Angeles’ history. “I can’t remember any other case we’ve had that was this large,” said Detective William Martin, who has investigated art thefts since 1978.

Martin said the missing art work, including lithographs and etchings by Paul Klee, Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall, is valued at $400,000. The most expensive single piece is a Degas bronze sculpture of a horse worth $50,000.

Three of the four known victims--one of whom lost 1,000 pieces--are gallery owners, according to police.

Esterhazy, 35, of Great Britain, opened his auction house in 1986 and was living near Hancock Park, Martin said. Los Angeles police have notified Interpol and Scotland Yard that he is wanted on grand theft charges.