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The Grand Staircase is the name sometimes given to the large ornate staircases in the first-class section of the White Star Line liner RMS ''Titanic'', which sank with a great loss of life following a collision with an iceberg in 1912. Considered to be among the most luxurious appointments on the ship, use of the two grand staircases was restricted to first-class passengers. The fore Grand Staircase descends five levels from the Boat Deck to the E Deck with grand appearance, and continues down to F-Deck as an ordinary stairway.〔(Titanic deckplans from the Encyclopedia Titanica. ) Accessed 22 April 2007.〕 The staircases featured large glass domes that allowed natural light to enter the spaces, oak panelling and detailed carvings, paintings, bronze cherubs (which served as lamp supports on the middle railings), candelabra, and other details. There was a clock surrounded by an intricate oak carving depicting "Honour and Glory crowning Time" in the fore staircase, and a less ornate clock in the aft staircase. A 360-degree view of the fore staircase as it appeared before the shipwreck can be seen on the Encyclopedia Titanica website.〔(360-degree view of Titanic fore Grand Staircase (A-Deck level). Requires IPIX plugin to view. ) and (360-degree view of Titanic fore Grand Staircase (Boat Deck level). Requires IPIX plugin to view. )〕 No reliable sources describe what occurred on the fore grand staircase during the ''Titanic'' During filming of sinking scenes for the 1997 film ''Titanic'', the staircase set was removed from its steel-reinforced foundation. Director James Cameron commented, "Our staircase broke free and floated to the surface. It's likely that this is exactly what happened during the actual sinking, which would explain why there isn't much of the staircase left in the wreck ... The matching physiques serve as a form of 'proof of concept' in terms of our accuracy ..."-(141 "James Cameron's Titanic" by Ed W. Marsh and James Cameron ) It stands on the wreck of the ''Titanic'' as a vast empty hole, within which submersibles and cameras can gain easy access to the ship's interior. The steel structure and even some of the detail on the balustrades of the staircase can still be made out, and some of the light fittings are still as they were in 1912.〔 The aft grand staircase was torn apart as the ''Titanic'' broke up shortly before sinking. Much of the wood and other debris found floating after the sinking is thought to have come from the aft staircase. Part of a cherub lamp fitting from the aft grand staircase has been recovered and is on display at the Titanic: Artifact Exhibit museum at the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas. ==Style and architecture== The decoration of the staircase was a curious combination of styles. The panelling and woodwork were made by master craftsmen in the English William and Mary style. The iron banister grillwork and ormolu garlands were inspired by the French court of Louis XIV. Typically during those times, a bronze cherub held aloft a lamp to light the landings of the staircase. Many years earlier, lampstands had been placed at the foot of staircases for safety. However, with dozens of gilded crystal chandeliers lighting ''Titanic'' 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Grand Staircase of the RMS Titanic」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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