Since the rusting hulk of the Titanic was located a decade ago, hundreds of artefacts have been recovered from the wreck site, including the personal effects of passengers and crew who died.
A leather travel bag with a broken handle, a five pound note in a wallet, an upholsterer's tool, an officer's White Star line badge and an unopened bottle of champagne all form the basis of the fascinating 'Titanic - the Artefact exhibition' coming to the Science & Industry Musuem in Manchester.
But it's the human stories attached to these items which make this exhibition so personal and so moving. For example, a leather pouch containing 65 samples of perfume belonging to one Adolphe Saalfeld of Manchester. When they were brought to the surface, the lab used to preserve and analyse the artefacts was filled with the scent of a century before!
Perfume label showing the name of Adolphe Saalfeld of Manchester who went down with the Titanic. |
All this was revealed in a preview of the exhibition which comes to the Museum of Science & Industry on June 25. It promises much more than coins and silverware in glass cases - this is a dramatic and moving experience. So don't forget to pack your imagination.
For example, when you see the ship's bell - remember that it was the same bronze bell that was rung three times that fateful night by the Titanic's lookout Frederick Fleet moments before he shouted: "Iceberg - right ahead!". And when you look at the ship's megaphone, imagine Captain Smith's voice issuing his final order to "Abandon Ship!"
There are recreated first class cabins, where valets had unpacked the fine clothes and belongings of their rich or famous masters. Or 'below decks' accommodation where the dreams of the poor seeking a new life in America sank without trace.
There will even be an Iceberg gallery, where you can place your hand on a real wall of ice, until the severe cold becomes too much. When you do that, just think: at -2C, the water that hundreds of poor souls plunged into was even colder. A chilling thought...
'Titanic - the Artefact Exhibition' opens at the Museum of Science & Industry runs from 24 June 2004 - 16 Jan 2005.
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Preview: Titanic - the Artefact Exhibition
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