A rare and extremely well-preserved feather of the extinct huia bird was auctioned off for NZD$46,000 ($28.365), officially making it the world’s most expensive feather.

Endemic to New Zealand, the huia bird has been extinct since the early 20th century. Already rare when the Europeans arrived on the island, the bird’s feathers became a target for collectors and fashion merchants, which eventually led to its extinction. The bird’s feathers are still valued very highly among collectors, so it’s no surprise that the world’s most expensive feather comes from a huia bird. Originally expected to fetch up to $3,000 at an auction, a pristine huia bird feather was sold for a whopping $28,365 last year, setting a new record for the world’s most expensive feather.

“The huia is such an iconic bird and a lot of people really relate to the bird in some way,” Leah Morris, the head of decorative arts at Webb’s Auction House, told The Guardian. “It doesn’t have a lot of bunching in the feathers … you’ll also see it’s retained a lot of its colours … its rich brown and iridescent colour and there is no sign of damage from insects.”

One of the reasons why huia bird feathers are so highly valued is their cultural and spiritual significance to the Maori people. Their feathers were often worn as headpieces by chiefs.

 

The world’s most expensive feather weighs only 9 grams, which means it’s worth many times its weight in gold.