U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith in Virginia has blocked RMS Titanic’s planned auction of more than 100 artifacts recovered from the Titanic wreck, including gem-studded jewelry, tableware and a bronze cherub from the ship’s grand staircase. The company, which holds exclusive salvage rights to the wreck, must obtain court approval before selling the items and provide an inventory and condition report. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, historians, archaeologists and the French government opposed the sale, arguing that the artifacts should be preserved and managed as a collection. Smith rejected RMS Titanic’s claim that the items fell outside the court’s jurisdiction and cited concerns about the collection’s condition and the company’s financial difficulties. The decision adds to legal and public scrutiny of Titanic artifacts, which have attracted high auction prices, including more than $900,000 for a passenger’s life jacket in April.