Titanic Belfast has welcomed the arrival of a new artefact: an original lifejacket that was worn by one of the ship’s survivors who escaped the RMS Titanic in Emergency Lifeboat No. 1, Laura Mabel Francatelli.
The lifejacket is on loan for a limited time from Henry Aldridge and Sons, the world’s leading Titanic memorabilia auctioneers, until 5th April before it goes to auction on 18th April.
The lifejacket, which is one of very few remaining original lifejackets that are identifiable to the person who wore it, will be free for the public to view and displayed alongside a wider temporary exhibition. Women of Titanic: Survival, Influence & Legacy, located on the Level 1 Apex of the world-leading visitor attraction, coincides with last Sunday’s International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day this weekend. The exhibition celebrates the fascinating stories of women who travelled aboard the ship.
The lifejacket was worn by first-class passenger, Laura Mabel Francatelli who was travelling as secretary to fashion designer Lady Duff-Gordon and her husband Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon, where they were en-route to Chicago for business. Their rescue aboard Emergency Lifeboat No. 1 gained some notoriety, as the boat launched with just 12 occupants despite having capacity for many more. Today, the lifejacket bears the signature of Francatelli, alongside those of fellow survivors including Leading Fireman Charles Hendrickson, Fireman George Taylor and Able Seaman James Horswill. Francatelli’s personal accounts of the disaster have been used by historians to shed light on what happened on the infamous night.
Eimear Kearney, Commercial Director of Titanic Belfast comments, “At Titanic Belfast, we are committed to telling the human stories behind the world’s most famous ship, and this lifejacket is an extraordinarily powerful piece of that history. We are proud to be able to provide our guests access to an artefact that was a crucial part of the survival journey, creating a direct and moving connection to those who lived through the tragic sinking. The lifejacket will act as a reminder of the resilience and humanity of the people on board, and we are honoured to offer visitors the opportunity to experience it here in Belfast before it goes to auction.”
Andrew Aldridge, Managing Director of Henry Aldridge and Sons, said: “We are delighted to share this rare and poignant lifejacket with Titanic Belfast and its visitors. We hope guests value the unique opportunity to see this remarkable piece firsthand and to reflect on the powerful journey it represents — both for the ship and its survivors.”
