An Auckland auction house expects five rare huia feathers to fetch a good price when they go under the hammer on Sunday.
Interest in the extinct native bird’s feathers has soared since May, when a single feather _ valued at between $1000-$2000 — sold at Webb’s for a world record-breaking $46,521, making the feather the most expensive in the world.
The Guardian dubbed the feather “more expensive than gold”.
Since then, the price of huia feathers had taken flight, Webb’s head of decorative arts Leah Morris said.
“It’s definitely increased. You would see them sell for around the $2000 mark prior to the May sale and then after [that] we now have a revised pricing, and they’re sitting between $8000 and $14,000.”
The five feathers are in different conditions and are valued on the Webb’s website from $7000 to $14,000.
One was bought at auction 10 years ago, but the others were passed down, Morris said.
One of them was gifted by Kīngi Tāwhiao to a postmaster or telegraphists he met in 1882, and was inherited by the vendor’s grandfather.
The accompanying written text said it is “a ‘relic of the Whatiwhatihoe great native gathering’ in May 1882 / From Kīngi Tāwhiao to one of the postmasters + telegraphists introduced to him at Alexandra 14.5.82”.
Another rare taonga up for sale on Sunday was a hand-carved seal that belonged to the second-ever Bishop of Melanesia, Bishop John Richardson Selwyn, Morris said.
“Usually these get destroyed after the bishop passes or they go into an archive … it’s really special we have this for auction.”
The last confirmed sighting of a huia was in 1907. Morris said people recognised the feathers were precious, and New Zealanders felt a real connection to the extinct bird.
“It’s … a story of loss, and deforestation and hunting, and people really connect to the huia bird because they appreciate our native flora and fauna and they want to protect them.”
Morris said Aucklanders had not quite been flocking to view the feathers, but interest had been “steady”.
“They might not be looking to purchase, but they’re looking to see a huia feather, because you might not get to see one, in your lifetime.”
The five framed feathers are up for sale as individual lots at Webb’s Mt Eden auction house, starting at 2.30pm on Sunday.
rnz.co.nz
