Deaver Antiques, Office Equipment Go on the Block

Hundreds of people pawed through former White House aide Michael K. Deaver’s empty trappings of power today at an office sale held to help defray more than $1 million in legal costs left from a court battle that resulted in his perjury conviction.

“Not your typical garage sale, huh?” said a smiling saleswoman as $100,000 worth of Deaver’s office furnishings were put on the block at the abandoned headquarters of his high-priced lobbying firm in this Washington suburb.

In the first hour of the three-day sale, business executives and curiosity-seekers snapped up about $25,000 worth of items, from a $15 set of highball glasses to a hand-painted Chinese screen with a $3,500 price tag.

Unsold during the early hours was the biggest ticket item at the sale, a handmade, 19th-Century English partner’s desk that Deaver bought on one of his overseas business trips. Price: $20,000. Other antiques included two framed, original Audubon prints selling for $2,750 each.