Rare and Historical Titanic Crew Member Skeleton Key Fetches $131K at Auction – Unveiling Fascinating Artifacts

A recently auctioned key from the Titanic has generated a lot of buzz. The key, which belonged to first-class saloon steward Alfred Arnold Deeble, sold for an impressive $131,250. Deeble’s body was found with the weathered skeleton key, which had a brass plate inscribed with the word “PANTRYMAN.” The key has been passed down through four generations of Deeble’s family.

The key was sold by Boston-based RR Auction through online bidding. The Titanic sank on April 14, 1912, after striking an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean. Deeble’s body was recovered and buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The auction lot also includes a photo of Deeble’s great-niece visiting his gravesite in 2011.

Lily Deeble, Deeble’s sister, played a key role in preserving the key and passing it down through the family. She not only lost her brother in the Titanic sinking but also her fiancé, who was another Titanic steward. The key’s well-documented lineage adds to its desirability as a Titanic artifact. RR Auction executive vice-president Bobby Livingston described it as a poignant piece of history.

An intriguing journey

Alfred Arnold Deeble was a British singer and a former member of the Royal Navy. In 1912, he was working as a saloon steward on the Titanic’s maiden voyage. The Nova Scotia Archives’ RMS Titanic Resource Guide contains details about Deeble’s key and Lily’s efforts to retrieve it. The archives document Deeble’s belongings, including the key with the “Pantryman” inscription.

A letter from the White Star Line, the company that owned the Titanic, requested Deeble’s effects. Nova Scotia’s deputy provincial secretary, Frederick F. Mathers, confirmed that he had sent the items, valued at $30. The key remained in the family and was eventually passed down to Lily’s daughter.

RR Auction described the key as a “remarkable” artifact with a rich history. It has now entered a new chapter as it found a new owner. The key serves as a tangible connection to the tragic events of the Titanic’s sinking, making it a prized collector’s item.

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