Made around 1900 from the beak of a female huia, this brooch is a reminder of the tragic loss of huia and other birds taken by collectors. As they became rarer, their value increased. Huia were last known alive in the early 1900s. A few groups were trying to rescue vulnerable species then, but concerted efforts to rescue near-extinct species did not gain momentum until the 1960s.
Using this item
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference:
I.034789
Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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