The price of a feather from a rare extinct bird has reached over 46,000 NZD, making it the most expensive feather ever sold at auction to date.
The feather of the Huia bird – an endemic species from New Zealand that is now extinct – had a starting bid of 3,000 NZD (over 1,800 USD), but ultimately sold for 15 times that amount, according to The Guardian.
The Huia feather from New Zealand sold at a record price. (Photo: Webb).
As of May 20th, the figure of 46,000 NZD (over 28,000 USD) has surpassed the previous record set in 2010 when a Huia feather sold for 8,400 USD.
According to the latest data from Gold Broker, the feather weighs approximately 9g, meaning each gram is worth 5,169 USD. This makes the feather significantly more valuable than gold, which is priced at only 127 USD/g.
The Huia belongs to the family Callaeidae and is the largest member of this family endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. They are known for their beautiful song, glossy plumage that is primarily black, and long tails with a hint of white.
This bird holds sacred significance for the Maori people, the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. Their image frequently appears in songs and sayings; wearing a garment made from Huia feathers was reserved for chiefs and esteemed figures.
Subsequently, the “feather craze” among Europeans led to the extinction of this rare bird. The last confirmed sighting of the Huia was in 1907, although many believe they survived into the 1920s.
The only feather from a Huia bird – an extinct species since the early 1900s. (Photo: Webb).
The desire to own items related to the Huia remains strong internationally. In 2023, a pair of stuffed Huia was sold at an auction in England for 466,000 NZD (nearly 285,000 USD), despite public pleas for the New Zealand government to intervene and bring them back home.
Leah Morris, head of the decorative arts department at Webb’s auction house in Auckland, where the feather was sold on May 20th, believes three factors drove the “final price” to such heights: the excellent condition of the feather, preservation efforts using archival paper and UV glass, and the story surrounding the Huia.
“It doesn’t have a lot of feathers clumped together… You can also see it has retained much of its color… a deep iridescent brown and shows no signs of insect damage. The Huia is an iconic bird. Many people have a connection to this bird in some way,” she expressed.
The feather has been registered as a taonga tūturu (true treasure) with the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, meaning that only registered collectors of taonga tūturu can own it. The feather also cannot leave New Zealand without government approval.
