David A. Gallager has thirty-five years of experience in the appraisal and cataloging of works of art and furniture. He has appraised collections and estates for private individuals, international auction companies, museums and fiduciaries throughout the United States.
He was employed for fourteen years by Sotheby’s as the director of a furniture department, a cataloguer of decorations, and for eight years as one of the two full-time general appraisers. As an appraiser for Sotheby’s, Mr. Gallager performed a wide range of insurance and fair market value appraisals for institutions and private clients.
Mr. Gallager joined Doyle New York in 1994 as Senior Estate Appraiser and Director of the American Furniture Department. He was responsible for appraising important estates serviced by the gallery, as well as researching and cataloging all the American furniture and related decorative arts sold by the firm. As needed, he was called upon to catalog Important English and Continental Furniture for auction. Additionally he made numerous proposals for the consignment and outright purchase of the items by the gallery
In 2000, Mr. Gallager formed David A. Gallager Appraisals, an independent appraisal and consulting firm for the fine and decorative arts.
He rejoined Doyle in 2007, and currently serves as Senior Vice President and Executive Director, Furniture and Decorations. Mr. Gallager is the Senior Appraiser for estate appraisals, and he reviews all written appraisals issued by Doyle.
He is Certified Member of the Appraisers Association of America, the leading professional organization of personal property appraisers. From 1998, he has served as a member of the Board of Directors, and in 2005 began a two-year term as President of the Association.
Mr. Gallager lectures for the New York University/Appraisal Studies Program where he has designed and taught courses on the connoisseurship of furniture, and appraisal methodology.
He holds a Master Degree in the History of Art from Boston University, is a graduate of the Attingham Summer School for the Study of the English Country House, and the Victorian Society Summer School in Britain. He is a member of the Furniture History Society.
