Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 21

Antique Pre-17th Century Extremely Rare Complete Elephant Bird Egg, Madagascar

$31,650.35List Price

About the Item

An extremely rare elephant bird egg, complete albeit with only minor damage. The Elephant Bird, formally categorised as Aepyornis Maximus, is an enormous flightless bird native to Madagascar. Standing as high as 3.4 metres and weighing up to 500kg, the Elephant Bird was undoubtedly the largest bird ever to have lived. Compared to even the largest modern ostrich (up to 8 feet high and weighing 300lbs) it was far taller and thicker-set with its far more muscular legs. A comparable species in terms of size is the Moa of New Zealand, which are also now extinct. The Elephant Bird roamed the plateaus and forest of Madagascar until their extinction sometime between the 14th and 17th centuries. Perhaps unsurprisingly given their gargantuan size, the Elephant Bird was originally believed to have been the giant flying beast known as the Roc (or Ruhk). This legendary bird of prey is perhaps a distorted version of Aepyornis Maximus, immortalised in the tales of Sinbad and accounts of Marco Polo's voyages. In Sanskrit epics the mythic bird Garuda carried a battling elephant in its talons, which is how the species received its colloquial name. Despite this association, the Elephant Bird’s diet instead comprised forest fruits. The egg of an Elephant Bird is a seldom seen specimen. Rarer still are examples with complete and intact shells like the present lot. Fewer than 40 such eggs populate public collections around the world. One reason for the rarity of these eggs would have been their culinary appeal for the human settlers of Madagascar. A single Elephant bird egg could easily feed a large group, and as a result they were highly sought after for nourishment. Their redefined status as a desirable food source for humans almost certainly contributed to their extinction. These curved eggs, with their cream or pale hues and gently perforated shells, are not only visually beautiful, but an enduring symbol of a creature revered in both science and legend. Comparative literature: Balanoff, A.M. Rowe, R., ‘Osteological Description of an Embryonic Skeleton of the Extinct Elephant Bird, Aepyornis’, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Memoir, Vol.9 (2007) Fig.6, p.9" CONDITION In very good condition. Most of the eggs that are available on the market are reconstructed using dozens, sometimes hundreds of pieces, more often than not from multiple similar examples. Although this example was clearly broken when discovered, it has been sympathetically restored and it can be seen that it has NOT been restored using multiple sections from other similar examples. We have taken multiple photographs to show how this example is indeed complete albeit not intact and we have pre-restoration photographs available upon request. SIZE Width: 22 cm // 8.66 inches Depth: 22 cm // 8.66 inches Height: 31 cm // 12.20 inches

Dimensions:
Height: 12.21 in (31 cm)Width: 8.67 in (22 cm)Depth: 8.67 in (22 cm)
Style:
Other (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Eggshell
Place of Origin:
Madagascar
Period:
15th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
1500
Condition:
Repaired: Please read full condition report and description. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor structural damages. Minor fading. In very good condition. Please read full item description for detailed information about condition report.
Seller Location:
Royal Tunbridge Wells, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: B109581stDibs: LU1348242535992

Antique 17th Century Baroque Nautical Objects

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Extremely Rare French 17th Century Brandy Bottle

$1,750

H 6.75 in Dm 5.75 in

17th Century Italian Rare Carved Walnut Antique Kneeler

Located in Casale Monferrato, IT

Rare antique Italian kneeler, Mid-17th Century Louis XIV. Made of solid walnut with relief decoration carved into the wood. In the part dedicated to the knees there is a compartment. Of great value all the hand forged iron part of the escutcheons and fantastic large antique keys...

Category

Antique Mid-17th Century Italian Louis XIV Religious Items

Materials

Walnut

17th Century Italian Rare Carved Walnut Antique Kneeler

$7,679 Sale Price

20% Off

H 34.65 in W 31.5 in D 21.26 in

Rare 17th Century South American Shrine

Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR

Rare 17th Century Cedar Shrine. Straight box with padded doors. Interior with decorative arch in the shape of a portal. Dimensions in centimeters: 52cm W x 26,50 cm D x 71 cm H. Th...

Category

Antique Late 17th Century Brazilian Baroque Religious Items

Materials

Cedar

Rare 17th Century South American Shrine

$1,800

H 27.9 in W 20.5 in D 10.5 in

Rare 17th Century South American Colonial Shrine

Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR

Rare 17th Century South American Colonial Shrine Straight box with pediment cut into stylized volutes. Made of polished cedar, with wrought iron fittings, this oratory reflects the ...

Category

Antique Late 17th Century Brazilian Baroque Religious Items

Materials

Cedar

Rare 17th Century South American Colonial Shrine

$1,900

H 29.5 in W 21.2 in D 11.81 in

Rare 17th Century Silver Reliquary Arm Monstrance

Located in Amsterdam, NL

A rare silver reliquary arm with relic bone, with the coat-of-arms of Cosme Roger (1671-1710), bishop of Lombez, France, with original bone relic Poss...

Category

Antique Late 17th Century Italian Renaissance Religious Items

Materials

Sterling Silver

Rare 17th Century Silver Reliquary Arm Monstrance

$35,998

Free Shipping

H 21.26 in W 7.88 in D 7.88 in

Rare 17th Century Espada, Sword Rest Console

Located in Round Top, TX

A very rare and exceptional espada or sword rest console magnificently crafted in hand-forged and tooled iron - from Sevilla, Spain. After a sword battle, the swords were placed on a...

Category

Antique 17th Century Spanish Arms, Armor and Weapons

Materials

Iron

Rare 17th Century Espada, Sword Rest Console

$8,250

H 36.25 in W 39 in D 19 in

Antique Rare 17th century Three German Powder Flasks, Wood Leather Iron

Located in Doha, QA

A remarkable and authentic set of three 17th-century German powder flasks, exceptionally rare to find together. These flasks, essential accessories for musketeers and hunters of the ...

Category

Antique 17th Century German Baroque Arms, Armor and Weapons

Materials

Iron

Antique Rare 17th century Three German Powder Flasks, Wood Leather Iron

$5,700 / set

Free Shipping

H 12.6 in W 5.52 in D 1.58 in

17th Century Thai Buddha Bronze Head

Located in Kastrup, DK

Buddha bronze head from Thailand (1600-1700s), loosely mounted on a black-painted wooden base. The head has a beautiful and serene expression, while the bronze features a natural, a...

Category

Antique 17th Century Thai Other Religious Items

Materials

Bronze

17th Century Thai Buddha Bronze Head

$689

H 7.88 in W 3.55 in D 3.35 in

Antique Extremely Rare 16th Century German Executioner’s Sword- “Richtschwert”

Located in Doha, QA

A rare and evocative 16th-century German Executioner’s Sword (Richtschwert), forged in Passau, one of the preeminent centers of Renaissance blade craftsmanship. Passau was renowned f...

Category

Antique 16th Century German Renaissance Arms, Armor and Weapons

Materials

Iron

Antique Extremely Rare 16th Century German Executioner’s Sword- “Richtschwert”

$24,500

Free Shipping

H 41.34 in W 1.97 in D 0.24 in

Early 17th Century Sculpture

Located in Copenhagen, K

Amazing Baroque sculpture of a woman wearing a crown in original paint. Her hands are missing. Colors are untouched, recently cleaned off from a thick dark coating, I have images fro...

Category

Antique Early 17th Century French Baroque Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Oak

Early 17th Century Sculpture

$2,800

H 7.29 in W 1.58 in D 1.38 in

More From This Seller

View All

Antique 17th Century Limoge Signed Plaque Of A Madonna Praying

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Antique 17th Century French painted porcelain wall hanging plaque portraying the Madonna in prayer against a radiant sunburst backdrop. Intricately painted with foliate patterns ador...

Category

Antique 17th Century French Other Religious Items

Materials

Porcelain

Antique 17th Century Limoge Signed Plaque Of A Madonna Praying

$8,251

Free Shipping

17th Century John Speed Map of Denbighshire, c.1610

By John Speed

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Antique early 17th century British very rare and original John Speed, hand coloured map of Denbighshire, dated 1610, by John Sunbury and George Humble. John...

Category

Antique 17th Century British Maps

Materials

Wood, Paper

17th Century John Speed Map of Denbighshire, c.1610

$818

17th Century John Speed Map of the Barkshire Described, c.1616

By John Speed

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Antique 17th century British very rare and original John Speed (1551-1629) map of the Barkshire Described, J. Sud and Georg Humble, publication (1616 or lat...

Category

Antique 17th Century British Maps

Materials

Paper

17th Century John Speed Map of the Barkshire Described, c.1616

$1,782

Free Shipping

Vintage 20th Century Rare Italian Pink Marble Dunhill Table Lighter c.1955

By Dunhill

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

A wonderful 20th Century Dunhill lighter, featuring an Italian pink marble body and a chromed brass mechanism. Stamped with the classic Dunhill name on the side and underneath. Made ...

Category

20th Century British Other Tobacco Accessories

Materials

Marble, Silver Plate

Vintage 20th Century Rare Italian Pink Marble Dunhill Table Lighter c.1955

$3,158

Free Shipping

Vintage 20th Century Rare Italian Travel Poker Set By Gucci c.1970

By Gucci

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

A rare 20th Century travel poker set made by Gucci. The travel case is crafted from dark pigskin leather and features Gucci's signature green-red-green stripe, accented by a gold-pla...

Category