26.08.2026 10:41
A U.S. federal court has halted the auction of more than 100 historical artifacts recovered from the Titanic, citing concerns over the integrity and preservation of the collection. The court requested an inventory and condition report of the artifacts.
A federal court in the US has halted the auction of more than 100 historical artifacts recovered from the Titanic wreck, citing concerns over the integrity and preservation of the collection.
AUCTION HALTED
According to a report by the Washington Post, Federal District Court Judge Rebecca Beach Smith in Virginia ruled to stop the auction planned by the company "RMS Titanic," which holds exclusive salvage rights to the wreck.
Smith stated that the sale of more than 100 historical artifacts recovered from the Titanic and planned to be offered at auction is subject to court approval, adding that concerns over the integrity and preservation of the collection were influential in her decision.
JEWELRY, TABLEWARE, AND BRONZE ANGEL
Smith requested that the company provide an inventory of the artifacts and information about their current condition.
The collection planned for auction includes items such as jewelry, tableware, and a bronze angel statue that adorned the Titanic's grand staircase.
OPPOSITION TO THE AUCTION
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), archaeologists, and the French government, which participated in the underwater exploration efforts that recovered the artifacts, had opposed the auction, arguing that the artifacts should be preserved as a whole.