RMS Olympic Tile, First-Class Swimming Pool / Bathroom

Product Description

Many of you have heard the rumor that Olympic’s wheelhouse is being used as a potting shed somewhere in the U.K. or that a collector has the clock from Honor and Glory and jealously guards his treasure.  Perhaps you have also heard the story that Olympic’s swimming pool tiles were in a garden in England.  I can’t shed any further light on the wheelhouse or clock stories, but I can put at least one of these rumors to rest.

I’m very proud to offer one of the rarest items I have ever had for sale.  Manufactured by Villeroy & Boch (founded in 1748 and still making bathroom fittings to this day), these tiles belonged to a lady whose grandfather worked at Jarrow and brought these home during Olympic’s demolition.  They have been in the family’s possession ever since.  Measuring about 7″ across and almost 1″ thick, each tiles weighs almost 2½ pounds! 

Identical tiles were recovered from the wreck of Titanic in 1987, and examples are currently on display in the traveling exhibit.

Although this pattern of tile was produced from 1886 to the early 1920’s, according to Villeroy & Boch, the back stamp on each tile indicates that these particular ones date no later than about 1910.  The “model number” for the pattern is 562.

Condition varies from tile to tile but all are in good shape with various nicks.

(Archival photos Harland & Wolff, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum Collection, and Museum of the City of New York.