Jewellery with ties to the Nazi regime is set to be auctioned at Christie’s, with the collection expected to fetch an astounding $150 million. The pieces belonged to Heidi Horten, an Austrian billionaire whose late husband, a German businessman, acquired his fortune during the Nazi era. The auction will showcase a wide range of jewels, including standout pieces from renowned designers such as Cartier, Harry Winston, Bulgari, and Van Cleef & Arpels.
If the auction surpasses the $150 million mark, it will break previous records set by Christie’s. Notable sales include actress Elizabeth Taylor’s belongings in 2011 and the “Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence” collection in 2019, both of which fetched over $100 million. Leading the Horten collection is a rare Cartier ring adorned with a 25.59-carat ruby and diamonds. Described as having a “saturated pigeon-blood red colour and fine purity,” the ring is expected to attract significant attention from collectors.
Max Fawcett, head of jewellery at Christie’s in Geneva, commended the Horten collection for its extensive selection of gemstones and its overall quality. The auction will feature everything from costume jewellery to one-of-a-kind high-end pieces, as well as historic jewels with extraordinary provenance.
The late Heidi Horten, who passed away at the age of 81, was valued at $2.9 billion according to Forbes. Her husband, Helmut Horten, was formerly affiliated with the Nazi party before his expulsion. A recent report commissioned by the Horten Foundation and published in January 2022 revealed that Helmut acquired several businesses from Jewish owners who had fled during the Nazi era. The report raises questions about the means by which he obtained these establishments and suggests potential coercion of the Jewish sellers.
Although the Allied denazification committee cleared Helmut Horten of any wrongdoing after the war, documented evidence showcases the business practices of purchasing Jewish businesses that were sold under duress. Christie’s CEO, Guillaume Cerutti, acknowledged Helmut’s history and emphasized that the decision to proceed with the sale was made after careful consideration. In order to maintain transparency, Christie’s has included relevant information about the Horten family’s past on its website and sale materials.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Heidi Horten Foundation, which was established in 2021 to support her art collection, as well as medical research, child welfare initiatives, and other philanthropic activities that Horten was passionate about. Additionally, Christie’s will make a significant contribution from the auction’s final proceeds to an organization dedicated to advancing Holocaust research and education.
The auction is scheduled to take place at Christie’s Geneva auction house from May 10 to 12, with select pieces also available for online bidding from May 3 to 15 and in November. It remains to be seen whether the collection will exceed its estimated value of $150 million, solidifying its status as an historically significant and valuable assortment of jewellery.
For more information on the auction, visit the Christie’s website: https://www.christies.com/
To learn more about Holocaust research and education, please visit: https://www.ushmm.org/
