A life jacket worn by a survivor of the RMS Titanic has sold for £670,000 at auction, setting a new benchmark for memorabilia linked to the ill-fated liner.
The flotation device, once used by first-class passenger Laura Mabel Francatelli, went under the hammer at Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire.
It is believed to be the only Titanic life jacket ever offered for sale at auction since the ship sank in 1912.
Francatelli was among roughly 700 passengers and crew who survived the disaster after the vessel struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic. She wore the life jacket before boarding a lifeboat and later signed it along with other survivors.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said he was “ecstatic” with the result, noting that the sale highlights the enduring fascination with Titanic’s story.
He previously described the item as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, given its unique status and direct connection to a named survivor.
The vest features 12 cork-filled pockets, shoulder supports and side straps, and had been expected to sell for between £250,000 and £350,000. Competitive bidding pushed the final price hundreds of thousands of pounds beyond that estimate.
Historic Artefacts Continue To Draw Strong Interest
The life jacket was not the only Titanic-related item to attract attention during the sale. A seat cushion from one of the ship’s lifeboats achieved £390,000.
The cushion is linked to London tea importer Richard William Smith, who perished in the disaster while travelling to New York. Although his body was never recovered, the cushion had been preserved by a friend.
It has been purchased by the Titanic Museum Attraction, which operates sites in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Branson, Missouri. The artefact is expected to go on public display.
Enduring Legacy Of The Titanic Disaster
The auction coincided with commemorations marking 114 years since the Titanic sank on 14th April 1912.
Ceremonies were held in Southampton, the port city closely associated with the ship and many of its crew.
More than 1,500 people lost their lives in the tragedy, making it one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history.
Over a century later, items connected to the ship and its passengers continue to command significant interest from collectors and museums alike, reflecting the lasting global impact of the event.
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