While on the body recovery mission
aboard the cable ship Minia, the ship's carpenter,
William Parker, persuaded his captain to allow him
to reclaim wood from Titanic's wreckage, otherwise
known as flotsam. He collected what he could from
the frigid ocean and made items such as this intricately
carved 12 5/8" x 15 1/2" oak picture frame.
Some items he gave away but this frame stayed in his
personal collection and was eventually passed down
to his decedents.
Titanic oak wreckwod is especially
desired because it was primarily used in higher-class
areas of the ship, such as the grand staircases. Because
of the close tight wood grain on this frame Titanic
experts believe it was made from parts of the molding
or trim.
Rare
picture frames, such as this, created from Titanic
wood by William Parker are frequently mentioned in
the the book "Titanic - Touchstones of a Tragedy"
by Steve Santini.
