Requests that proceeds benefit organizations for Holocaust survivors, commemoration and education
Mr. Francois Curiel
Chairman of Christie’s Europe
Dear Sir,
It has come to our attention that Christie’s is mounting the sale of a jewelry collection belonging to the estate of the late Heidi Horten. Her late husband, Helmut Horten was a Nazi Party member who made his fortune by buying businesses at a fraction of their worth from Jews who were forced to sell to Aryans.
On behalf of the Executive Board of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, I would like to express the WFDB’s objection to this sale, so clearly associated with Nazi plunder of Jewish businesses. In a time of Holocaust denial and the resurgence of anti-Semitism around the world, we find it especially appalling that a world-renowned auction house would engage in such a sale.
Although we are aware that Christie’s has made a concession to the universal public outcry against this auction, by stating that it will make a significant contribution from its final proceeds to Holocaust research and education, we feel it necessary to express our outrage at this auction.
The WFDB strongly requests that if Christie’s insists on holding the Horten auction, that you personally ensure that the major portion of the proceeds be donated by Christie’s to charities supporting the welfare of Holocaust survivors, as well as commemoration and education. For the sake of transparency, we also request that the amount of the contribution and the recipient organizations be announced to the public.
Yours truly,
Yoram Dvash President, WFDB
