The violin of British musician Wallace Hartley, who died in the 1912 Titanic crash, was on display at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson (Missouri, USA).
The instrument was previously sold to a collector for $ 1.7 million. This was the highest price ever paid for an artifact from a ship.
Now the anonymous owner has allowed the violin to briefly become part of the museum's exhibit.
“This is the most iconic item. This is the instrument Wallace Hartley, the musician and orchestra leader, played when the ship sank,”commented director Andrew Aldridge.
The violin was originally presented to Wallace Hartley by his fiancée. He took the instrument on the first voyage of the Titanic. After the tragic collision of the liner with the iceberg, a group of musicians played to the last for the passengers (this scene was recreated in the film of the same name by James Cameron. - Ed.).
Unfortunately, Hartley was unable to escape. He was discovered two weeks later. A violin was tied to the body, which was handed over to the bride of the deceased musician. She donated it to the Salvation Army.