World Record Broken - Most Expensive Feather Ever
A single feather from a huia bird – extinct since the early 1900s – has sold at Webb’s Auction House in New Zealand for $46,521, breaking the previous world record by 450%.
"More valuable than gold" —The Guardian
World Record Broken – Worldwide Media Headlines
Webb’s Auction House (Auckland, New Zealand) last night witnessed the highly competitive sale of a single feather of the now extinct huia bird which fetched a price of $46,521.50NZD (US$28,417) reportedly making it the world’s most expensive feather sold at auction.
“We are very pleased that this rare item of natural history has achieved such huge bidder interest,” said Leah Morris, Head of Decorative Arts at Webb’s Auction House, “highlighting the fragility of our ecosystem and the importance of looking after its fauna.” Potential buyers were required to provide a permit from the country’s Ministry for Culture & Heritage before they were allowed to purchase.
The huia bird (Heteralocha acutirostris) was a member of the wattle-bird family (Callaeidae) and its last credible, reported sighting was in 1907. Their feathers were very important to New Zealand Māori and were often worn as headpieces by chiefs and their families and also gifted or traded. The plumage is distinct as it has a beautiful white tip across the edge, which made it highly coveted for decoration in wearable garments such as hats. Recently, a taxidermied pair of the huia sold for $457,704 (US$279,588.48) at a UK auction in 2023.
The previous record — $8,400 (US$5,150 in today’s exchange) — was achieved in 2010, also by Webb’s, for a feather of the same bird species. All Webb’s prices include a buyer’s premium of 19.5%
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The new record-breaking feather was sold at Webb’s Material Culture live auction, which saw exceptional prices reached for other objects such as: A Finely Carved Wooden Tobacco Pipe by Thomas Heberley which sold for $3,585; an Assemblage of Stone Tools that reached $2,151; and a Pā Kahawai Fishing Hook that reached $1,553.50.
The feather is a Y-registered object, meaning Manatū Taonga Ministry of Culture & Heritage, Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira hold a permanent record of the item recognising its importance, meaning it can only be purchased by registered collectors and not leave New Zealand without express permission from the Ministry of Culture & Heritage.
Prior to its live auction, the feather generated significant New Zealand press interest, including with RNZ, StuffNZ, NZHerald, 1News and ThreeNews.
