Graff Auction Sparkles at Christie's

Graff held an auction of contemporary art at Christie’s in London on Monday to benefit For Africa’s Children Every Time. Peter Brant, Uma Thurman, Hugh Grant, Tracey Emin, Naomi Campbell, and Dasha Zhukova all had a hand in organizing the auction, which will benefit the billionaire jewel tycoon’s recently formed program to aid youths and orphans in Africa. The James Bond theme song “Diamonds Are Forever” set the mood for two of the evening’s lots that included the precious jewel—Graff donated a pair of double hoop earrings in white gold and round diamond pavé and Damien Hirst’s 2009 oil on canvas depicting a Graff stone with the artist’s trademark skull entitled Porter Rhode. The top lot, The Mild-Eyed Melancholy Lotus Eater, using acrylic, enamel, rhinestones, and glitter paper and donated by artist Raqib Shaw, brought in more than $325,000. All 26 lots found buyers, bringing in approximately $1,212,144.