Memorabilia: Ship’s artefacts still thrill avid collectors

THE 20th century’s ill-fated ocean liners keep emerging as fragments on the antiques market. In the last few decades serious collectors have amassed some rare objects from infamous shipwrecks.

The most important shipwreck after the Titanic is the Lusitania, due to its controversial sinking during World War I. Unlike the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, when auction houses competed at the highest level, very few serious Lusitania artefacts became available for auction.

Most serious maritime collectors would give their right arm to own a true piece of the Lusitania, although anything directly associated with this ill fated ship is highly collectable. In 1967, John Light successfully purchased the wreck of the Lusitania for the sum of £1,000 from the War Risk Association of Liverpool. Subsequently, it was purchased by Gregg Bemis. To-date, his involvement with Lusitania has been estimated at €5m.