Results from Bonhams & Butterfields May 2006

Hi Trevor,

The deck chair failed to sell:

cbc.ca/cp/world/060507/w050740.html

As for the letter, I haven't been able to find any information on it.
 
Good morning Robert and Jason,
Thank you for the information. Last night I was doing further research into the lot and found that this "Marie', as Robert pointed out wasn't a passenger, merely a visiter disembarking before sailing. Perhaps the reason why the letter fetched such a paltry sum. Also up for auction was a pair of spectacles saved in the breast pocket of Nikola Lulic.
 
Hello Steve, Apparently you are not the only one who seems to think so. A descendant of the gentleman in discussion seems to believe so as well. Picturing a man climbing into a small tender with a bulky camera in one hand and a deck chair in the other seems unlikely. It did, however, fetch a hefty sum and apparently did sell. I believe the chair may have been featured at the Orlando Exhibit- It certainly was at the British World Class Collection exhibit last year.

What are your opinions on the other lots on the block?
 
Dear Trevor,

I was led to believe the chair did not sell.

I think it did not meet the imlated reserve of it's owner/s.

Unfortunately, I was not able to see the other lots so I cannot comment.

But I am very aware of the chair as it became known to me many years back having been acquired by one Denis Cochrane of the UK.

Anyone who knows anything about Denis needs wonder no further about the validity of the chair.

Once the chair was made known to me, I began to conduct my own research and I came to the conclusion is was simply "not right".

Aside from the fable that it was taken off Titanic in a rowboat, there are other things wrong with it.

Besides, who, even the Captain, would have the authority to allow an item of White Star Line property to be removed from the ship?

Answer: No one except Ismay himself.

Oh no!!!

Now I have given the owners of this chair a likely donar to add to thier "provenance" package the next time this thing shows up for sale somewhere.

And it will.

Believe me, it will.

Cheers, Steve Santini
 
Dear Steve,
The chair was apparently sold for $65,000.00(!) privately by Bonhams after the auction. The final sum stuns me after witnessing a Titanic deck chair fall for under 10k at the Guernseys 2004 auction.
I'm aware of Denis Cochrane and his other dubious artifacts which have popped up under the hammer in the past. Take for example the engraved "Cafe Parisien" sugar caster that sold last year (purportedly) taken off by one nameless crewman-such items must be taken with a grain of salt.

Here is the online catalog along with the results:

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=USA&screen=catalogue&iSaleNo=13438

Simply type in 'Titanic' in the description box.
 
>>I am weeping gallons at the fact some fool actually bought the chair.<<

But does it really surprise you? P.T. Barnum had it right you know. There's quite a few people out there with a lot more money then sense. About the only thing that amazes me is that given what's known about this chair, that any reputable auction house would go anywhere near it.
 
Sugar caster? Maybe it was the one where the lid fell off all over the melon in "A Night to Remember"! Great scene- the cameras keep right on rolling and the actress does not miss a beat. A fool and his money are soon parted.
 
Very interesting. And that is a funny scene Shelley. I know nothing of this Denis Cochrane, but Michael hit the nail on the head when he stated his amazement that the auction house would fall for this rouse.
I guess there are no laws or penalties if the item is proved to be bogus? It really is a shame.
-Don
 
>>I guess there are no laws or penalties if the item is proved to be bogus?<<

Well, if it can be proved it is bogus, the buyer will receive a full refund with no harm done. A similar mishap took place at a Sothebys auction house with a forged poem written by Bonnie Parker along with her supposed death hat. In the case of that infamous roadhow Titanic menu that sold at auction , I have no idea of the outcome.
 
Many years ago, when this chair first appeared for auction and before Cochrane bought it, I contacted the auction house that was offering it via e mail and tried to tell them my concerns and fact finding on it.

They totally ignored me and did not even respond via e mail to my message.

But of course, what could a lowely Canadian Titanic researcher possibly know?

Steve Santini
 
"They totally ignored me and did not even respond via e mail to my message."

Steve, that seems to be the norm. Of all, Tony seems about the best.

"But of course, what could a lowely Canadian Titanic researcher possibly know?"

More than almost everyone else. btw...love your book
 

Similar threads

M
TIS Chicago convention May 2006
Replies
4
Views
1K
Michael H. Standart
M
A
Henry Aldridge Titanic Auction Devizes April 29th 2006
Replies
6
Views
2K
Jason D. Tiller
Jason D. Tiller
Back
Top