THREE DUTCH V.O.C. INGOTS, SALVAGED FROM THE WRECK OF THE 'BREDENHOF', GROWN TOGETHER BY CORAL

 

 

Circa 1750, salvaged in 1986

L. 15 x W. 7 cm
Gross weight 4272 grams

Note:
On June 6th 1753 the Dutch East Indiaman “Bredenhof”, equipped by the VOC Chamber of Middelburg, was wrecked on a reef 13 miles out of the coast of Mozambique. In order to prevent looting of the wreck the boxes containing the silver ingots were dropped overboard, on the assumption that they soon would be salvaged. The gold was taken ashore. However, attempts to recover the lost silver in 1754 and again in 1755 failed. Only in 1986 the precious cargo of the Bredenhof was finally salvaged. On the reef the silver bars in the course of time through the movements of the sea lost weight and shape and grew together through coral growth, resulting in such “sea-sculptures”.