Huia feather from New Zealand breaks all records

It is sometimes said: 'You know the bird by its feathers'...

. It is sometimes said: 'A bird is known by its feathers'... Now this specimen clearly shows that we are dealing with a very special piece of natural history. It recently set a world record in New Zealand as the most expensive feather ever auctioned.

A remarkable auction in New Zealand: a single feather from the extinct huia bird changed hands for no less than 46.521 New Zealand dollars (€26.100).

According to auction house Webb's, the highest price ever paid for a single feather. The expected amount was initially between 2.000 and 3.000 New Zealand dollars, but the final sales price exceeded this by an impressive 450%, easily breaking the previous record of 8.400 New Zealand dollars, also for a huia feather in 2010 .

Something different than a feather from the Dutch cock; the so-called Huia was last seen in 1907. The Huia is a striking black bird with distinctive white tips on the tail feathers. The bird was known for its beautiful song and was sacred to the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. The bird's feathers were more than just decorative objects to them; they were status symbols worn as head jewelry by tribal leaders. The feathers also functioned as a valuable medium of exchange and were donated as a sign of friendship and respect.

Missed opportunity?

The copy that recently went under the auction hammer was in exceptionally good condition. “The feather still has a distinct shine and there was no insect damage,” said Leah Morris of Webb's Auction House.

If you think you have missed an opportunity for an impressive piece of interior decoration with an impressive story; the spring has been labeled as a protected cultural heritage. This means it cannot leave New Zealand without permission from the ministry.