Two rare artifacts tied to the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic are heading to the auction block this month, offering collectors and museums a direct link to one of history’s most famous maritime disasters.
John Jacob Astor IV’s 18-karat gold Patek Philippe pocket watch, retailed by Tiffany & Co. and engraved with his monogram, will be offered by Freeman’s in Chicago on April 22. The timepiece was recovered from Astor’s body days after the ship struck an iceberg on April 15, 1912, and sank in the North Atlantic.
The wealthiest passenger aboard, Astor helped his pregnant wife Madeleine into a lifeboat before perishing with the vessel. The watch, which has remained in the Astor family for more than 114 years, carries an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. A gold Battin & Co. pencil case recovered alongside it will also be sold.
Separately, a canvas seat cushion from one of the Titanic’s 13 lifeboats goes on sale April 18 at Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, England. The cushion still bears its original White Star Line plaque in the shape of a burgee and comes from a lifeboat that carried survivors to the rescue ship SS Carpathia. It is expected to bring up to £180,000 (about $240,000). Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge called the piece “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a museum or collector.”
The Titanic lifeboat seat cushion is being sold alongside an original length of rope from the ship
Henry Aldridge & Son
The items highlight the enduring public fascination with Titanic memorabilia. No injuries or fatalities are connected to the current sales; both artifacts are being offered by private owners with clear provenance. The auctions occur just weeks before the 114th anniversary of the disaster.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
