A coat worn by Hollywood actress Kate Winslet during the iconic sinking scene in Titanic is expected to fetch up to $250,000 (£200,000) at auction next month.
Known as the ‘sinking coat’ in the 1997 blockbuster, the fashion piece is expected to be sold for anywhere between $125,000 (£96,000) at the lowest estimate, all the way up to around $250,000 (£200,000).
The coat is being sold alongside a host of other movie props at the Entertainment Memorabilia auction in Los Angeles between August 15-18.
James Cameron’s epic retelling of the infamous 1912 sinking of the Belfast ship is one of the most successfully Hollywood movies of all time.
The light-pink coat – which features black curlicue embroidery on its collar and cuffs – is first seen worn in the film by Winslet’s character shortly after the boat hits the iceberg, as she tries to search for information alongside her mother and fiancé Cal.
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The auction site added: “Rose wore her coat as crew members aboard the Titanic informed passengers to put on their life belts and when she attempted to save Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) from drowning in the lower level holding area.
“This coat screen-matches to the scene where Rose spoke with Mr. Thomas Andrews (Victor Garber) about the ship sinking by the grand staircase.
Credit @PropStore
“Due to the nature of the scene where the piece would be submerged in a water tank for hours at a time, production produced several copies of Bukater’s sinking coats for use throughout production.
“This particular coat, a pink wool- and polyester-blend coat, features black embroidery along the collar and cuffs, and black thread woven buttons over the chest.
“It includes one beige cloth production bag and a pair of colour-printed photo stills of Winslet wearing the coat in a black metal frame. This lot exhibits minor discoloration.”
The auction next month and the significant prices being quoted continues the trend of Titanic memorabilia going for big sums, with continued significant interest in both the fictional film and the actual wreck.
In March the iconic prop from the film which helped save the life of Kate Winslet’s character sold at an American auction for $718,750 (£567,561).
Credit @PropStore
The prop, which is made of balsa wood, was modelled on the door frame above the entrance to the ship’s first class lounge.
Near the climax of the film, Rose and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack cling to it before they realise there is only space for one of them and Jack sacrifices his life for his love.
Last year it was revealed Titanic had become the third highest grossing movie of all-time following the most recent 3D release of the film.
Titanic has raked in $2.217bn (£1.825bn) in box office earnings, compared with Avatar 2 on $2.214bn (£ 1.823bn).
The re-release of Titanic, to honour its 25th anniversary last year, took in $22.3m (£18.3m) globally.
Some 1,500 souls were lost on the Titanic after the ship hit an iceberg on its journey from Southampton to New York in 1912.