Bidspirit auction | Bermuda Shipwreck Artifacts Recovered by

Bermuda Shipwreck Artifacts Recovered by Peter and Wendy Benchley - A collection of 14 marine artifacts recovered from underwater sites in Bermuda circa 1969-1970 by Peter and Wendy Benchley. The assemblage includes three dark olive-green glass bottle fragments, featuring two bases with high kick-ups and one neck with a hand-applied string rim characteristic of 18th to mid-19th-century manufacture. The ceramic group consists of one earthenware shard with a crackle-glazed blue and grey surface and two unglazed earthenware fragments showing visible throwing rings. Metal components include one copper-alloy drift bolt with a square head and green verdigris patina, alongside three iron spikes featuring heavy calcareous marine encrustation. Accompanied by a handwritten provenance note from Wendy Benchley. Largest: 8” H x 2 1/4” W x 2 1/2” D. A personal note from Wendy Benchley: “I’ve kept these fragments from our first Bermuda dives with Teddy and Edna Tucker for over 50 years. Those first dives in 1969 opened up a fascinating world of exploration for us. Peter described Teddy as “a master of every discipline having to do with history and the ocean. He was one of the great autodidacts in the history of science.” From the personal collection of Peter Benchley (American, 1940–2006), acclaimed author of Jaws, accomplished diver, and prominent advocate for ocean and shark conservation. Proceeds from the Peter Benchley Collection will benefit five ocean conservation organizations: Peter Benchley Ocean Awards, WildAid, Beneath the Waves, Blue Frontier and Environmental Defense Fund.