Jewelry auction with Nazi links fails to meet expectations after pushback
Luke Gentile
Video Embed
Famous British auction house Christie’s did not meet its expectation of earning over $150 million from the sale of roughly 700 pieces of jewelry formerly belonging to late Austrian heiress Heidi Horten, after Jewish groups heavily criticized the sale for its links to Nazi Germany.
The collection had been deemed “one of the greatest jewelry collections” by Christie’s, who expected to fetch roughly $156 million but settled for $139 million at the sale in Geneva, according to a report.
DEFLORIDA BLUEPRINT: DESANTIS FINDS HIS FOREIGN POLICY AS HE INCHES TOWARD 2024 RUN
Horten’s sapphires, emeralds, pearls, and diamonds featured in the Wednesday auction, including the 90-carat “Briolette of India” diamond.
Horten’s deceased German husband, Helmut Horten, began amassing his wealth from Jews fleeing the Nazis, according to a report.
The jewelry was first acquired beginning in the 1970s, but Helmut Horten’s wealth was, in large part, the product of purchasing “Jewish businesses that were sold under duress,” according to the report.
“What’s important is that we have been completely transparent,” Rahul Kadakia, international head of jewelry at Christie’s, said.
“We are selling this collection in its identity with the name Horten. It’s not being sold as an anonymous collection.”
From the sale, Christie’s announced it would donate a “significant contribution” to Jewish groups that further Holocaust education and research.
“Of course we cannot erase history,” Max Fawcett, head of the jewelry department at Christie’s in Geneva, said.
“But we hope that the funds from this sale will go to do good in the future.”
The notion that jewelry acquired with a fortune amassed by taking advantage of Jews oppressed by the Nazis would be auctioned off drew ire and condemnation from many groups.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“It is not enough that this sale will benefit a charitable foundation or that Christie’s will make an unspecified donation for Holocaust education,” a statement from the American Jewish Committee read.
“One of the most challenging tasks in addressing the legacy of the Holocaust is providing justice for the massive looting of its victims. There are still many barriers to securing restitution. … It is even more difficult when unscrupulous businessmen took advantage of Aryanization laws and the desperate needs of Jews fleeing the Nazis to amass their fortunes.”