A FINE AND RARE ELEPHANT BIRD EGG 17TH CENTURY OR EARLIER |

of large hollow form and filled with sand, the exterior of the pitted surface of an attractive creamy-eggshell colour

Collection of Lord McAlpine Baron of West Green (1942-2014), friend and advisor to Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher. Lord McAlpine was the Treasurer of the Conservative Party and a great collector of Kunst Kammer Objects.

There is minor surface pitting and natural wear to the patina. As is customary for preservation of elephant bird eggs, it has been drilled and filled with sand.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The egg of the elephant bird is the largest egg ever known, outcompeting any known dinosaur eggs. Elephant bird (Aepyornis maximus), was reputedly a name coined by the great explorer Marco Polo. It was believed that the bird, reminiscent of a massive ostrich, stood over 10 feet tall and was so enormous that it could carry off an elephant. The elephant bird, now extinct, was active in the south of the island of Madagascar in the Spiny Forest where they fed on the trees. Their shells were highly prized by the Madagascans, they have been used both practically as containers and treasured as prestige collectables passed down from generations to generations. In the nineteenth century during the European expeditions to Madagascar, these rare eggs of curiosity were discovered. Filled with awe, several of these were brought back to France and England, most of which are now housed in public museums. The present egg is one of a few which remain in private hands. It was formerly in the collection of Lord Alistair McAlpine, an English peer celebrated for his interest in the curios.

Robert Alistair McAlpine, Baron McAlpine of West Green (1942-2014), an early supporter of and advisor to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was the Treasurer of the Conservative Party in the 1980s. He was also an art collector and dealer of kunstkammer objects, which led him to open his shop, Erasmus, in Cork Street in London.