Swastika removed from Hampstead auction after community outrage

A Hampstead auctioneer withdrew a swastika-shaped pendant from auction after members of the Jewish community voiced their outrage at the planned sale of the jewellery.

Colin Smith withdrew the pendant from a sale at Hampstead Auctions, in Heath Street, last week after the Ham&High reported on the controversial sale.

Jessica Learmond-Criqui, who lives in Hampstead, described the swastika as “an incitement to racial hatred” and urged Mr Smith to scrap plans to sell the pendant.

In a letter to the Ham&High, Mr Smith said he had decided to withdraw the pendant “as we do not wish to cause offence of this type under any circumstances”.

But he pointed out that having canvassed opinion amongst Jewish colleagues, friends and clients, just one in 12 expressed offence at the sale of the pendant.

He added: “In our opinion the pendant in question has no relationship to fascism, it is an historical article which was most likely a good luck charm when it was manufactured.”