Titanic Cache Heads to Auction on 100th Anniversary of Voyage
When explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet first dove to the ocean floor surrounding the wreck of the RMS Titanic, he found a debris field that “looked like a flea market,” he said.
“In one spot there were a lot of things from the kitchen - - pots, pans, dishes. Over there were cases of wine and champagne,” Nargeolet said in an interview today. “The suitcases, we found almost everywhere.”
Now the objects that Nargeolet recovered -- more than 5,000 of them -- are going on sale in a manner bearing little resemblance to a flea market. Guernsey’s auction house will offer the objects in one lot on April 11, the centennial of the start of luxury liner’s fateful first -- and last -- voyage. The sale will take place at the Intrepid Air & Space Museum in Manhattan.
An appraisal in 2007 valued the objects and the intellectual property associated with them at $189 million.
The seller is Premier Exhibitions Inc. (PRXI), known for traveling shows such as “Bodies.” Premier owns RMS Titanic Inc., which recovered the objects.
“We’re looking for a steward,” said Brian Wainger, spokesman for Premier.
“Many, many tens of millions have been put into the recovery and conservation of objects, and we’ve done everything at museum-quality standards,” he continued. “But we are a public company and we recognize this is probably better situated in private hands. We want a third party with the same commitment we have, and better resources.”
No Stealing
The Atlanta-based company wants to pass along the artifacts as well as its responsibilities at the wreckage site. The company serves as chief monitor of the site, guarding against pillagers. About 50,000 objects still remain on the debris field.
“If we got 10 good plates of a certain kind, then we left the others,” Nargeolet said.
The collection includes red-and-white plates used by third class passengers, blue-and-white plates used by those in second class, and blue-and-gold plates used by those in first class.
A philanthropist, a museum or a private company are all potential buyers, said the president of Guernsey’s, Arlan Ettinger, who noted that the final bidder must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, under Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.
Nargeolet said he would be happy to take the winning bidder on a dive to the wreckage site.
To contact the writer on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net or on Twitter at @amandagordon.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Titanic Auction
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
A pocket watch recovered in a suitcase of William Henry Allen, a third-class passenger of the Titanic. The leather exterior of suitcases served to protect many items from deterioriation, including letters and diaries.
A pocket watch recovered in a suitcase of William Henry Allen, a third-class passenger of the Titanic. The leather exterior of suitcases served to protect many items from deterioriation, including letters and diaries. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Titanic Auction
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Part of a gold chandelier that hung in the ship's smoking room.
Part of a gold chandelier that hung in the ship's smoking room. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Titanic Auction
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Binoculars recovered from the debris field of the Titanic wreckage.
Binoculars recovered from the debris field of the Titanic wreckage. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Titanic Auction
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
A tag for luggage that survived the Titanic wreck.
A tag for luggage that survived the Titanic wreck. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Titanic Auction
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
P.H. Nargeolet, director of underwater research for Premier Exhibitions Inc.
P.H. Nargeolet, director of underwater research for Premier Exhibitions Inc. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Rate this Page
Bloomberg moderates all comments. Comments that are abusive or off-topic will not be posted to the site. Excessively long comments may be moderated as well. Bloomberg cannot facilitate requests to remove comments or explain individual moderation decisions.