Titanic Violin Sells For £900,000 At Auction

Sharon · #1 10-19-2013, 02:49 PM

Quote:

A violin thought to have been played to soothe passengers as the Titanic sank in 1912 has been sold for almost £1 million at auction.

The violin was said to have been found in a case strapped the body of bandleader Wallace Hartley when he was recovered from the icy waters.

About 200 people packed out the sale room at Henry Aldridge and Son auctioneers to witness the sale.

Mr Hartley famously led his band in playing as the ship went down, including the hymn Nearer My God to Thee.

The violin re-emerged in 2006 after being reportedly discovered in an attic in Yorkshire and its provenance was only verified after seven years of tests and research.

Around 200 people packed out the sale room at Henry Aldridge and Son auctioneers as Mr Aldridge's brother, Alan Aldridge, started the bidding at just £50 to allow two of his friends to take part in the auction.

But quickly the bidding shot up past £100,000 and the audience gasped as it raced past £350,000.

The room fell silent when the bid reached £750,000 and the violin was eventually sold after intense competition between two telephone bidders.

The previous record for a single piece of Titanic memorabilia stood at £220,000.

Article about when violin originally found
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-21806334

Kanda444 · #2 10-19-2013, 02:51 PM

that would be a pretty spectacular piece to own if you were a collector...

Sharon · #3 10-19-2013, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kanda444

that would be a pretty spectacular piece to own if you were a collector...

It would make me cry I think!

Faline · #4 10-19-2013, 03:07 PM

I said it would go for way more than the reserve price.

Kanda444 · #5 10-19-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharon.

It would make me cry I think!

i think it would make me cry too... just, wow!!

Sharon · #6 10-19-2013, 03:37 PM

Wallace Hartley's memorial in Colne Cemetery, Colne, Lancashire, England

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...&GRid=7980

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Hartley

This image of him with a violin in hand is very touching

Click image for larger version

Name: handviolin.jpg
Views: 522
Size: 14.1 KB
ID: 490997

Pyramid_Head · #7 10-20-2013, 11:59 AM

I would have bought it had I been rich.

**kellyhound** · #8 10-20-2013, 04:18 PM

wonder who bought it

Sharon · #9 10-21-2013, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellyhound

wonder who bought it

A private buyer here in Britain

Spiffyfable · #10 10-27-2013, 12:46 AM

Yeah, that's rather cool. That would be neat to own, but really... it belongs in a museum

The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to Sharon For This Useful Post:
Faline, gatagato, Gaydolf Shitler, invertigo, Kanda444, kellyhound, Pyramid_Head, Xfactor

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Kanda444 For This Useful Post:
gatagato, invertigo

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Sharon For This Useful Post:
gatagato, Kanda444, lovelylucinda

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Kanda444 For This Useful Post:
gatagato, invertigo, Sharon

The Following User Says Thank You to Pyramid_Head For This Useful Post:
gatagato