The violin, played by violinist and actor Jonathan Evans-Jones in the 1997 film, sold at auction on 26 April 2025
The violin played in the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic has sold at auction house Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, UK, for £54,000. It was expected to fetch up to £60,000.
The film broke box-office records at the time of its original release, grossing nearly $2 billion. It depicts the 1912 sinking of the ship RMS Titanic, which claimed approximately 1,500 lives.
The violin is seen prominently in the scene during the ship’s sinking, where the band continues to play music on the ship’s deck in an attempt to calm passengers. Band leader Wallace Hartley, portrayed by Jonathan Evans-Jones, plays the hymn Nearer My God to Thee.
The violin, which was described as ’a true piece of movie history’, was sold by Evans-Jones in 2013 and has been in the possession of a private collector since.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge told the BBC: ’The record-breaking prices and global participation from collectors are a testament to the enduring interest in the Titanic the world over.
’The stories of those men, women and children are told through the memorabilia and their memories are kept alive through those items.’
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