Christie’s responds to criticism over World of Heidi Horten auction

British auction house Christie’s has dismissed a demand by the Wiesenthal Centre to remove its auction “World of Heidi Horten: Magnificent Jewels,” due to Horten profiting from Nazi “aryanisation” of Jewish department stores.

Heidi Horten was married to Helmut Horten, who worked in a department store during the rise of the Nazi regime in 1933. Helmut profited from “aryanisation laws and in 1937, Horten strengthened his relationship with the Hitler’s regime, when he joined the Nazi party.

Wiesenthal Centre demanded that the auction taking place in Geneva between 3-15 of May be cancelled “or else to make exhaustive catalogues available to the greater public – through all media outlets – of the present Horten sale, as well as all upcoming sales of jewellery, musical instruments, books, silverware or other artwork that could be the fruit of ‘aryanisation’ or Nazi looting of Jewish property.”

“For our part, Christie’s felt it important to donate a significant portion of its final proceeds to organisations that further advance Holocaust research and education.  It is therefore incumbent upon Christie’s to make this auction a success,” Peers added.

But Christie’s dismissed the allegations and demand, telling Jewish News that “each object being auctioned is well documented with detailed purchase indications. As with any property consigned to Christie’s, the Collection has undergone our standard and thorough due-diligence process.”

“Christie’s decision to take on the sale of jewellery from the Estate of Heidi Horten was made after careful consideration and with the explicit understanding that 100% of the proceeds her Estate receives will be directed to a foundation which supports philanthropic causes, including healthcare, children’s welfare, and access to the arts,” Christie’s President, Anthea Peers, wrote Jewish News.

“For our part, Christie’s felt it important to donate a significant portion of its final proceeds to organisations that further advance Holocaust research and education.  It is therefore incumbent upon Christie’s to make this auction a success,” Peers added.

Christie’s agreed to take on the auction with knowledge of the “well-documented business practices of Mrs. Horten’s late first husband” during the Nazi era when he purchased Jewish businesses that were sold under duress.

“And, this is why Christie’s chose to sell this unique and exceptional jewellery collection intentionally using the name of Heidi Horten, thus not obscuring any element of the history of the fortune of Helmut Horten, as an anonymous or private sale could have allowed. We want to be clear that the sale will be public and organised with complete transparency,” Peers said.

“We cannot erase history, but we are hopeful and believe that through this auction, Christie’s can ensure that the funds raised go to good and important causes. We are looking forward to the success of the sale to raise transformative funds for this philanthropic foundation and to support the significant contribution Christie’s will make to vitally important Holocaust education and research,” Peers concluded.