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A feather from an extinct bird, the huia, has been sold in New Zealand for almost 26,000 francs. This makes it more valuable than gold.
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- A feather was sold at auction in New Zealand for around 26,000 francs.
- It comes from the Huia bird, which became extinct a hundred years ago.
- With a value of 2,870 francs per gram, it is more valuable than gold.
A single feather has fetched a record price at an auction in New Zealand. It is a remnant of the plumage of the Huia bird, which became extinct one hundred years ago.
Its value had previously been estimated at between 2,000 and 3,000 francs. However, it turned out to be much more valuable: it was sold to its new owner for 46,521 New Zealand dollars, the equivalent of around 25,829 francs.
The piece, auctioned at Webb’s in Auckland, is thought to be the most expensive feather in the world.
Weighing just nine grams, it costs 2,870 francs per gram. It is more valuable than gold, as the price of the metal in New Zealand is currently equivalent to around 71 francs per gram.
«The huia is an iconic bird»
Why did the feather yield so much? Second Leah Morris, head of decorative arts at Webb’s, perhaps because it is in excellent condition, as he told the Guardian. It has been protected with archival paper and UV glass.
Furthermore, the Huia is still highly revered. According to Morris, his history may also be why the offers were so high. “It’s an iconic bird and many people have a relationship with it,” he told the Guardian.
The huia was last officially sighted in 1907. However, researchers are convinced that it lived in New Zealand until the 1920s. For the Māori it was sacred: they venerated it and praised it with songs.
As Morris reports, auction attendees watched “with bated breath” as the price continued to rise. The unusual aspect was the applause of the room at the end. “It doesn’t happen often at an auction,” he told the Guardian.
