Collections

Gentleman's pince nez spectacles

These spectacles were found in a leather case bearing a Parisian maker's name. They may have belonged to an American passenger who had travelled in France and bought them before boarding the Titanic at Cherbourg.

They are from a selection of items from the wreck of the Titanic that have been loaned to the Merseyside Maritime Museum by the Liverpool and London Steamship Protection and Indemnity Association. The pince nez are on display with five other loan items from the Association.

Many items have been recovered from the wreck of the Titanic since Dr Bob Ballard first discovered it in 1985. The Titanic's salvors presented a number of these items to the Liverpool and London Steamship Protection and Indemnity Association.

The Association, which was based in Water Street, Liverpool at the time of the liner's sinking, settled compensation claims from crew and passengers in the traumatic aftermath. It was founded in 1881 by legendary White Star chief Thomas Ismay with other steamship owners from the two ports.