LOT 2998

Intact Egg of the Aepyornis Maximus 'Elephant Bird'

19 1/4 in. (11 3/4 in.) (6.3 kg total, 49.5 cm high including stand, egg: 30 cm).

A remarkable specimen of a fine, large, sub-fossilised egg of the Aepyornis maximus, popularly known as the 'giant elephant bird', featuring a beautifully mineralised surface, with an area where the hatchling exited, expertly reattached, leaving little visible trace.

Private collection of Professor Raniero Gnoli, located in Castel Giuliano, Bracciano, in the Province of Rome.
According to Professor Gnoli, the egg was acquired by a relative in a Parisian gallery approximately a century ago.

The Aepyornis maximus was one of the largest birds to ever exist, a flightless giant reaching nearly 10 feet in height and native to the island of Madagascar. Extinct by the 17th century, this extraordinary bird has captivated human imagination for centuries and inspired numerous myths and literary works. The eggs surpass the size of any known dinosaur egg and could accommodate the volume of seven ostrich eggs, approximately 160 chicken eggs, or an astonishing 12,000 hummingbird eggs. These eggs, once common on the island, are now among the few physical remnants of this magnificent species.

While the precise cause of the elephant bird’s extinction is unknown, evidence strongly points to human activity, including hunting and habitat destruction. As the bird vanished from Madagascar’s landscapes, its myth grew, merging with folklore to leave an enduring legacy that connects history with imagination. This intact egg stands as a rare and tangible link to a bygone era, offering a profound sense of wonder for a species that once roamed the earth as the largest bird in recorded history.