Plan to Auction 100 Titanic Artifacts Faces New Opposition

R.M.S. Titanic Inc., the exclusive rights holder to the wreck, is facing renewed opposition to its plan to auction 100 artifacts recovered from the Titanic. The company previously attempted to sell items but was blocked by US and French government intervention. According to the New York Times, R.M.S. Titanic sought to seal documents related to the new sale, but a Virginia district court judge rejected the request, making the filing public. A company lawyer declined to reveal which specific artifacts are for sale. The Washington Post reported that the sale, pending approval from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), includes personal items, currency, kitchen utensils, and furniture. The 100 artifacts will be displayed in a global tour visiting four cities before the auction. Among the items are a bronze putto from the grand staircase, a gold nugget necklace, and a heart-shaped pendant (not the Heart of the Ocean from James Cameron's film). The company has not confirmed whether other notable artifacts from its 'Top 25 Artifacts' list are included, such as another necklace, a pocket watch, a Spode porcelain cup, a leather travel bag, and a stained-glass window from the first-class smoking room. The sale still requires final approval, and opposition from US and French governments could block the initiative.