Editor’s Note
This article revisits a poignant chapter in auction history, detailing how Christie’s London harnessed public generosity during the First World War. The series of charity sales, held from 1915 to 1918, provided crucial support for the Red Cross, turning donated treasures into vital aid for those affected by conflict.
Between 1915 and 1918, Christie’s London held a series of annual charity auctions, with proceeds donated to the Red Cross to support the world’s largest humanitarian organization in aiding those affected by conflict and armed violence. Each auction lasted 10 to 15 days and featured a dazzling array of items donated by the public, including wine, furs, jewelry, and porcelain, all in memory of fallen soldiers.
Public interest in the auctions was immense, leading to strong prices. The series collectively raised over £320,000 (approximately equivalent to £13.9 million today).
The most stunning lot was undoubtedly the 205-carat cushion-cut Fancy Intense Yellow diamond known as the ‘Red Cross Diamond’, distinguished by a Maltese cross cut into its pavilion.
explains François Curiel, Chairman of Christie’s Europe and Head of the Luxury Division.
This famous diamond is set to be auctioned at Christie’s on May 11, marking only its third appearance at auction in over a century. The majority of the proceeds will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Curiel added.
The rough stone, weighing approximately 375 carats, was discovered in 1901 at a De Beers mine in South Africa. On April 10, 1918, the Diamond Syndicate (now the Diamond Trading Company) first consigned it for auction to raise funds for the British Red Cross and the Order of St. John, the latter of which uses the Maltese cross as its emblem.
After fierce bidding, the magnificent diamond was acquired by London jeweler S. J. Phillips for a staggering £10,000 (approx. £600,000 today)—more than three times its reserve price. It became the top lot of a sale that raised a total of £50,000 (approx. £3 million today).
The diamond reappeared at Christie’s in November 1973, selling for 1.8 million Swiss Francs in Geneva. Curiel notes,
Christie’s and the Red Cross have long collaborated to address humanitarian crises. Beyond the WWI auctions, Christie’s held the ‘Red Cross Pearls’ sale in December 1918 to fund treatment and care for the wounded.
That sale featured items crafted from 3,597 pearls donated by British society to the ‘Red Cross Pearl Appeal’, resulting in 41 necklaces, scarf pins, brooches, and rings. One donor wrote,
Another donated a pearl
The highlight was a necklace of 63 graduated pearls with a rose-diamond clasp, now known as the ‘Red Cross Pearl Necklace’. It was bought by jeweler Carrington Smith for £22,000 (approx. £1.3 million today), with crowds queuing outside Christie’s King Street galleries during the three-day viewing to speculate on its price.
Other notable charity auctions include the 1940 sale of jewels donated by British royalty and nobility, and the 1986 auction for the ‘Red Cross Sudan Appeal’. Christie’s also donated to the Red Cross for California wildfire relief in 2018 and provided 500 places for its Christie’s Education online courses in 2020 to support the British Red Cross International Fundraising Committee.
