Controversy and Competition: Christie's Jewelry Auction in the Headlines.

Christie's is set to host one of the largest jewelry sales in history, featuring 700 jewels from the estate of Austrian heiress Heidi Horten, with a predicted value of over $150 million. However, the sale has drawn criticism due to the fact that Horten's husband, Helmut, built his business empire by purchasing companies from Jews who were pressured to sell because of Nazi persecution. While the proceeds will benefit a charitable foundation established by Horten, some historians and critics argue that the sale obscures the roots of the family's fortune and more transparency is needed. Christie's has added a mention of Helmut Horten's business practices and will donate a portion of the proceeds to Holocaust research and education.