A cushion from one of the Titanic's lifeboats is expected to be sold at auction later this month for up to £180,000 ($238,000). Described by its organizers as a «once-in-a-lifetime opportunity» for antique collectors, the cushion comes complete with the original lifeboard plaque from the Titanic in the shape of the White Star flag. It was originally purchased by a friend of a London tea importer who was lost on the vessel when it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on April 14, 1912. British agency PA Media reports that the cushion itself, made of fabric, was taken from one of the 13 lifeboats that transferred survivors to the rescue ship SS Carpathia. It comes complete with four intact brass rings, and most importantly, it still retains the original lifeboat board plaque. It is being sold with an original piece of the ship's rope and documentation to verify its authenticity. The Titanic lifeboat seat cushion will be offered for public auction by auction house Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, on the 18th of this month.
