£1,000
The Cunard Liner 'Aurania', Isle of Mull, 1918 Cutlery From the shipwreck, sunk in 1918 Including fish knives, serving spoons, forks, teaspoons, nutcracker, sugar shaker spoons, sugar tongs, melon scoop, grape scissors, oval dish, milk jug, white ceramic shard, a sugar bowl, all silver-plated and most marked with the Cunard SS Co crest and most mounted onto felt-backed display boards. Approximately 90 pieces in total. The unused silver cutlery sets found by divers on the wreck illustrate the impact of the First World War on commercial shipping. The Cunard ocean liner never carried a civilian passenger, but was torpedoed while serving as a troopship with her opulent peace time fixtures and fittings locked away but still on-board. The story of the silver room’s existence being overlooked by commercial salvors and its accidental discovery by sports divers is also a great theme when discussing amateur archaeology and diving. It was in 1980 that salvagers found her prized "Elkington Silver Room" which stored the silver for the 2140 passengers she would never carry in peace time.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Free Registration
28.8% inc VAT*
Flat Fee Registration
25.20% inc VAT*
VAT/Sales Tax on hammer: 20%
*These fees include buyers premiums and internet surcharges.
