At an auction in New Zealand, a single feather from an extinct bird called Huia was sold for millions of Korean won, creating a buzz. According to reports from foreign media outlets such as The Guardian on the 21st local time, Webbs, an auction house in Auckland, New Zealand, revealed that the Huia feather was sold for 46,521 New Zealand dollars (approximately 38.74 million Korean won) at an auction held the previous day in Auckland.
The weight of this feather is approximately 9g, valued at around 430,000 Korean won per gram. The Huia, belonging to the Wattlebirds family, is known for its shiny black feathers and has been cherished by many. Designated as a cultural treasure by the Ministry of Heritage, the Huia has been reported extinct since 1907, attributed to human hunting and habitat destruction.
The Huia feather was considered a sacred item by the Maori people, with white-tipped feathers used as head decorations for Maori chiefs. Even to this day, there is a continued interest in owning Huia feathers, leading them to appear frequently at auctions. Previously in 2010, a Huia feather was sold for 8,400 New Zealand dollars (approximately 7 million Korean won), setting a record high price. However, after 14 years, the price has increased by 453%.
Webbs introduced the feather auctioned in this event as “the most expensive feather in the world.” The winning bidder is known to be a collector residing in New Zealand. However, since this feather is registered with the New Zealand Heritage Department, the buyer must obtain permission from the department to purchase the feather and export it out of New Zealand.
The feather seller explained that they had kept the feather well until now and decided to sell it as it was time to let it go. They expressed joy that through this auction, people can see the feather itself, acknowledging that not everyone has the opportunity to do so.