- 2 Frassetto Way - Lincoln Park, NJ 07035
The Peter Benchley Collection: Jaws, A Life of Writing, A Legacy of Stories
Lot 291:
Description
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.
From the personal collection of Peter Benchley (American, 1940–2006), acclaimed author of Jaws, accomplished diver, and prominent advocate for ocean and shark conservation.
Condition report:
The collection is in excavated, as-found condition consistent with long-term marine submersion. The glass shards exhibit jagged edges and iridescent weathering. Ceramic fragments show edge wear, staining, and surface loss. The iron spikes are heavily oxidized with thick calcareous buildup. The copper-alloy bolt displays surface pitting and verdigris. The wood fragment is fragile with grain separation, surface erosion, and cracking.
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