ELEPHANT BIRD EGG

Aepyornis maximus
Madagascar
1200–1600 years
31.1 × 24 cm

Provenance:
Private collection, Italy

Elephant birds, giant ratites native to Madagascar, have been extinct since at least the 17th century.

Marco Polo mentioned hearing stories of very large birds during his journey to the Far East in the late 13th century. These accounts are today believed to describe elephant birds. The species likely grew to more than 9.8 ft (3 m) in height and weighed in the range of 770–1100 lbs (350–500 kg), which makes it the largest bird to have ever lived. The ancient Malagasy name for the bird is vorompatra, meaning ‘bird of the Ampatres’. The Ampatres are today known as the Androy region of southern Madagascar.

Very rarely, subfossilised eggs are found intact. The National Geographic Society in Washington has a specimen of an Aepyornis egg which was discovered by Luis Marden in 1967. The wonderful example presented here shows beautiful colour, measures a staggering 11.4 in (29 cm) in height, and is in very good condition. A small hole is visible on one side, probably caused by another animal helping itself to the contents of the egg. No other cracks or damages are present and it presents an overall beautiful patina.