Four bronze plates from the lifeboats that carried Titanic survivors are expected to command some of the highest auction prices ever associated with the 1912 maritime disaster, Christie’s said on Friday.

Two lots — one a plate reading “S.S. Titanic” and a White Star lines house flag rendered in bronze and the other a plate also reading “S.S. Titanic” and one saying “Liverpool,” where the ship was built — are expected to command $40,000 to $70,000 each (21,500 to 37,600 pounds) to at next week’s sale, the auction house said.

“It’s certainly a possibility that they could go well over $100,000,” said Gregg Dietrich, Christie’s maritime specialist in charge of the sale.

The items are the highlights of a June 1 sale of 350 lots of ocean-liner furnishings and art, from three major collections as well as the Steamship Historical Society.

Models of other ill-fated ships including the RMS Lusitania, S.S. Andrea Doria, S.S. United States, S.S. Normandie and S.S. France, are also featured.

The Titanic offerings also include a detailed deck plan given to first class passengers (auction estimate $15,000 to $20,000) and a medal commissioned by famed survivor Molly Brown and presented to crew members of the rescue ship Carpathia.

Posted: 05|27|06 at 9:21 am. Filed under: US News.