Albert Sack with a transitional Queen Anne armchair, in a photograph taken in the 1970s to promote a lecture.

Albert M. Sack, pioneer American antique dealer, author, lecturer, and World War II veteran, passed away at the Hock Family Pavilion on May 29. With his brothers and son, Albert Sack, born March 24, 1915, ran one of the most prestigious American furniture galleries in the world, Israel Sack, Inc. 

Israel Sack began the family business in 1905 and was famous for finding and selling masterpieces of early American furniture. Many credit Israel Sack Inc. for developing the entire American antiques market. Albert Sack established the criterion in which to judge American furniture with his landmark book, FINE POINTS OF AMERICAN FURNITURE: GOOD, BETTER, BEST, which quickly became “the bible” in evaluating American antiques. Through its 24 printings, Sack’s book made antique collecting accessible.

Before Israel Sack closed its doors in 2001, Albert Sack and his brothers donated the Israel Sack Galleries to the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today, these galleries reflect the Sack family’s superior scholarship and connoisseurship. 

Albert Sack is survived by his wife, Shirley, his daughters Deborah, Donna and Rena and son Donald. Funeral arrangements are pending. 

Friends are asked to share memories and pictures at the Albert Sack Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Albert-Sack/173013596091097?sk=photos . A complete obituary and tribute to Albert Sack will appear in next week’s issue of Antiques and The Arts Weekly .