Titanic struggle to prove violin’s authenticity resolved
Instrument thought to have been played by the band leader on the Titanic as the ship sank declared genuine
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The violin thought to have been played by the band leader on the Titanic as the ship sank has been declared genuine following a computerised scan at a hospital.
Radiographers at BMI The Ridgeway Hospital in Wiltshire took a 3D image of the violin to examine it from the inside, which Andrew Aldridge from the auction house Henry Aldridge and Son said proved the violin was on the ship “beyond reasonable doubt”.
“The fine detail of the scan meant the auctioneers could examine the construction, interior and the glue holding the instrument together,” said the hospital’s imaging manager, Astrid Little.
The auction house was approached by the violin’s owner, who wanted to sell it, in 2006. Newspaper archivists, jewellery experts and forensic scientists spent the next seven years trying to authenticate the instrument, but to no avail.
The violin belonged to Wallace Hartley, who famously continued to play with his orchestra as the ship sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton in 1912. He and the other members were among the 1,517 who died, but it is claimed the violin was found strapped to Hartley’s floating body and returned to his fiancée.
Although deposits of salt water were found on its bodywork, the instrument was protected by a heavy leather bag and didn’t come into direct contact with the water.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments