Meet a new bronze cherub at Titanic display in Las Vegas

“Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” is debuting a rare cherub statue from the staircase of the sunken Titanic cruise ship at Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Researchers believe the bronze statue, fished from the RMS Titanic’s underwater grave off the coast of Newfoundland, was a light fixture from the aft staircase that connected the C Deck to the Promenade Deck.

Cherub statues served as decor throughout the ship, but they were mainly found along the five-level grand staircase that linked the Boat Deck to the E Deck.

Large glass domes showered natural light down the staircase, which was decorated with oak paneling, carvings, paintings, candelabras and bronze cherubs that were lamp supports in the center rails.

The site of the Titanic was discovered Sept. 1, 1985; the cherub was discovered two years later by Paul-Henry Nargeolet, the director of underwater research program for RMS Titanic Inc.

The company is the only one permitted to recover artifacts from the wreckage. The recovery surfaced more than 5,500 pieces, now exhibited at five Titanic museums in the United States and Geneva, Switzerland.

The bronze cherub is the only such piece recovered from the wreckage. Its small size suggests it resided on a smaller staircase aboard the ship.

This marks the cherub’s first Las Vegas appearance. It’s also the first new artifact to join the collection in nearly two years. The cherub sticks around until Feb. 28.

Tickets to the exhibit cost $32.

Info: “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition,” (702) 262-4400