The pandemic of Covid-19 did not stop only Men, in their peregrinations. She also stopped objects: those collected around the wreck of the Titanic, after its sinking at the beginning of the last century.
These everyday pieces, which belonged to the passenger victims, are kept in the United States. They were to make the trip in March 2020, towards Cherbourg, where the City of the Sea was waiting for them for a one-year exhibition. They had been packed and crated, preparations which our correspondent in the United States, Yona Helaoua, had been able to attend, who had drawn a report on the spot. We were supposed to publish it at the end of March.
The virus swept away this exciting project. Closure of museums, borders, restriction of travel… The objects remained in place in Atlanta (Georgia). In the meantime, some have not left their box but several, like the telephone, the gold watch, the curling iron, shoes, the arithmetic book, the inkwell, were unpacked and used in distance courses with schools or businesses
, described Jeffrey Taylor, now executive director of collections.
Objects ready to show to the public
The objects of the Titanic finally arrived in Cherbourg on Tuesday evening, January 26, in a container, by plane then by truck. According to Jeffrey Taylor, the packaging conforms to the shape of each specific object so that it does not move during transport
. Inside the boxes, protective foam or polystyrene sheets are cut into several pieces or hollowed out. We build the packaging around the object.
The inscriptions, markers and photos left on the boxes allow them to be repacked in exactly the same way.
Jeffrey Taylor was to accompany in person these artefacts
but recent travel restrictions have prevented it. He participated in their installation remotely, by videoconference with Bernard Cauvin, CEO of the Cité de la mer, and his team, Wednesday. Here they are in the windows of permanent course
. Ready to appear in public, as soon as the City is authorized to reopen.
– .
