The world's most expensive 'bird feather' costs more than 700 million, the 'prehistoric' owner surprised?

A feather belonging to a long-extinct New Zealand bird has sold at auction for a record price: NZ$46,521 ($28,400), the auction house said.

According to auction house Webb's Auction House, the huia was last discovered in the early 20th century and its feathers have sold for up to NZ$8,400 (about $5,100).

In the auction on May 20, the feather broke the record, becoming the world's most expensive feather ever sold.

"This rare huia feather is a prime example of Aotearoa's natural history and reminds us of the fragility of our ecosystems," said Leah Morris, head of decorative arts at the Auckland-based auction house.

A member of the wattle family, the huia was so beloved that it was on the verge of extinction. Among the Maori people of New Zealand, its feathers were a sign of high status and were worn in ceremonial headdresses.

According to the New Zealand Museum, only the highest ranking people were allowed to wear huia feathers on their heads. The feathers of this bird were often used to barter for other valuable goods or given as gifts to show friendship and respect. European New Zealanders also considered huias a symbol of prestige.

The feathers of this bird were used as fashion accessories and stuffed huia birds were used as decorations in wealthy homes. Maori and European hunters killed huia birds in large numbers during the 19th century to sell to collectors and fashion dealers.

The huia's dangerous popularity was further enhanced when the Duke and Duchess of York were photographed wearing feathered hats during their visit to New Zealand in 1901.

After that, “everyone just went crazy and wanted a huia feather,” Morris said. Attempts by scientists in the early 1900s to preserve the few remaining huia birds failed.

Those interested in purchasing the feather must obtain a permit from the New Zealand Ministry of Culture and Heritage before bidding at the auction earlier this week, the auction house said. The feather is only for sale to registered collectors and cannot be taken out of the country without permission from the ministry.

In addition, antiques such as vases that were thought to be worthless were also auctioned for unexpected sums. A vase that had been stored in a kitchen corner for many years in a house in England was auctioned for $1.8 million after it was determined that the gold and silver-plated vase was from the Qing Dynasty, China, in the 18th century.

Historians have identified it as a Qing Dynasty treasure that once belonged to an emperor. The vase, of unknown date, may have been stolen from Chinese palaces in the 19th century, raising concerns about the loss of Chinese antiquities.

The 60cm tall vase, bearing symbols related to the reign of Emperor Qianlong (the longest-reigning emperor in Chinese history), is painted in blue, a colour used to decorate objects at the Temple of Heaven, where Chinese emperors would perform animal sacrifices to pray for a bountiful harvest.

The ancient vase is decorated with a combination of gold and silver motifs, depicting clouds, cranes, flutes, fans and bats... symbols that Chinese Emperors believed would bring health and longevity.

The mixing of gold and silver to decorate this vase is an extremely difficult technique that very few artisans can do. According to experts on Asian ceramics, this technique was performed by a talented artisan in China (born in 1682, died in 1756).

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, China faced historical upheavals, and foreigners stole and brought back many antiques from Chinese palaces.

The undated vase belonged to a doctor who bought it at a market in the Midlands, UK, in the early 1980s. After the doctor died, his son inherited the vase. Neither the doctor nor his son knew of its value, so it sat in a corner of their kitchen for many years, until an antiquities expert discovered it in the late 1990s.

A rare 18th-century jade seal of the Chinese Emperor Qianlong was also successfully auctioned for $11.8 million. In the autumn auction in Hong Kong, Sotheby's auction house sold precious items of Asian artistic value. The items in the auction included precious watches, jewelry, wine, etc. At the end of the 5-day auction, the total value of the proceeds was up to $281 million. Of which, the jade seal of the Chinese Emperor Qianlong was the item purchased at the highest price.

The 18th-century Qing Dynasty emperor’s jade seal was expected to fetch around HK$80 million (US$10.3 million). At the last minute, it was sold to an anonymous Asian buyer for HK$91.5 million (US$11.8 million).

It is known that the jade seal of Emperor Qianlong is considered one of the Chinese antiques highly sought after by collectors.

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