Christie's attacks what it says has been a rise in "unfounded accusations" from academics and the general public who, it says, are increasingly questioning the provenance of "legitimate" historical objects on ideological grounds. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/30/christies-launches-war-unfounded-accusations-questioning-origins/

Christie's: "If organisations who only work within the law turn away from this area, the trade would continue away from public view, objects would not be re-examined, catalogues published or exhibitions held..."

Christie's defense came after "concerns were raised over the provenance of a 15th Century Persian Quran manuscript it sold this summer, for a world record £7m.

"The Quran is believed to have been bought in the 1980s when there was an active trade in these types of object."

Christie's statement does not address the recent Senate investigation of Russian money laundering in the art market, which names Christie's 278 times:

https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2020-07-29%20PSI%20Staff%20Report%20-%20The%20Art%20Industry%20and%20U.S.%20Policies%20that%20Undermine%20Sanctions.pdf

Christie's also did not address its recurring role selling (or trying to) looted antiquities in recent years, acting as middleman between anonymous sellers and anonymous buyers whose identities they protect.

We've chronicled those here:

https://chasingaphrodite.com/?s=Christie%27s