EXCLUSIVEKate Winslet's Titanic 'sinking coat' expected to fetch staggering price at upcoming Hollywood auction
- The coat worn by Winslet's Rose as the Titanic begins to sink is up for auction
- Known as the 'sinking coat,' the piece is estimated to fetch up to $250,000
- The Los Angeles based auction is set to take place from August 15 to 18
The coat worn by Kate Winslet's Rose DeWitt Bukater in the harrowing sinking sequence in 1997's Titanic is set to reach a staggering price at auction.
Known as the 'sinking coat,' the piece is estimated to fetch between $125,000 and $250,000 in an expansive 'Entertainment Memorabilia' auction hosted by PropStore - set to take place from August 15 to 18.
Rose is first seen donning the light-pink coat, which features black curlicue embroidery on its collar and cuffs, shortly after the boat hits the iceberg, as she, her mother and fiancé Cal are circling the boat's Grand Staircase in search of information.
It's here that Rose is able to get insight as to the severity of the situation from the ship's architect Thomas Andrews, played by Victor Garber, who tells her that the Titanic will be at the bottom of the Atlantic in as little as an hour.
A coat worn by Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater during the harrowing sinking sequence in 1997's Titanic is expected to fetch up to $225,000 at auction
Rose is first seen in the light-pink coat, which features black curlicue embroidery on the collar and cuffs, while she, her mother and Cal are trying to find out information from the crew
Rose is wearing the coat as the ship's architect, Mr. Thomas Andrews (Victor Garber) breaks the news to her that the Titanic will be at the bottom of the ocean in as little as an hour
At this point, Cal has already framed Jack for stealing the Heart of the Ocean necklace, and Jack has been handcuffed to a pipe below deck and left for dead.
Still wearing the coat, Rose is about to board a lifeboat with her mother and Cal.
But, once she realizes that Cal and his bodyguard intended for Jack to go down with the ship, she flees and embarks on a rescue mission.
She catches Mr. Andrews again in the hall, and gets him to tell her where on the ship prisoners would be held so she can locate Jack.
Rose keeps the coat on as she enters the rising water below deck and finds Jack before going back up a level in search of help.
Once she descends back down with an axe to break Jack's handcuffs, the water has risen by several feet and she ditches the coat on the water-logged staircase - which is the last time that we see the 'sinking coat.'
Notably, several versions of the coat were made for filming by the costume designers, given that Rose wore the coat as she waded through water.
According to PropStore Auction, the version of the coat on sale was screen-matched by experts to the scene in which Rose speaks to Mr. Andrews while en route to save Jack.
Rose continues to keep the coat on as she heads to a lifeboat with her mother and fiancé Cal - before fleeing once she realizes the Cal has arranged for Jack to go down with the Titanic
Determined to rescue Jack, Rose runs into Mr. Andrews once more and demands to know where prisoners would be held. The coat in this scene was screen-matched to the one for sale
Rose keeps the coat on as she searches for someone to help her free Jack from the handcuffs, after finding him below deck, where the water is rapidly rising
Once Rose returns to the lower floor with an axe to free Jack from his handcuffs, she discovers the water has risen and ditches the coat on the staircase
In auction parlance, 'screen-matched' means that appraisers were able to match the item with one that appears on-screen.
In 2023, the same version of the coat was on offer through Goldin, and ultimately sold for $110,400.
Another version of the coat sold through GWS Auctions in 2019 for $270,000.
That's still far from the highest price wealthy fans of Titanic have paid for the attire worn by the characters.
In 2012, the red, black-beaded dress Rose wears while contemplating suicide - and meets Jack for the first time - sold through Paul Fraser Collectibles for $330,000.
As for the PropStore Auction, Rose's 'sinking coat' is just one of close to 2,000 Hollywood-related lots on offer.
Also on offer is the Lasso of Freedom from Wonder Woman (2017)
Harkening back to an earlier era of cinema is Cleopatra's headdress, worn by Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra (1963)
Among the other particularly notable items available is Indiana Jones' signature hat, as seen in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), that's expected to go for up to $500,000.
Then there is Cleopatra's headdress, worn by Elizabeth Taylor in 1963's Cleopatra, and the Lasso of Truth prop from 2017's Wonder Woman.
Among the other films represented in the lots are My Fair Lady (1964), Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969), Grease (1978), Alien (197), Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983), Dirty Dancing (1987), Scream (1986), Pretty Woman (1990), Forrest Gump (1994), Gladiator (2000), Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005), James Bond: Skyfall (2012), Captain America: Civil War (2016, and Logan (2017).
