Bones from the most famous of all extinct birds come for sale as part of our Out of the Ordinary sale on February 15 & 16.
20 January 2022
The femur and phalanx bone from the dodo, the flightless species that died out in Mauritius around 330 years ago, are expected to make £3,000-4,000.
The dodo, a member of the pigeon family had thrived on Mauritius until the Dutch colonised the island in 1638. Hunted for sport and further threatened by the arrival of alien species such as rats, dogs, cats, and pigs, it was thought to have become extinct before 1690. It is one of the first occasions that man realised that human actions alone could cause a species to die out.
THE DODO,
before 1690, Mauritius, a set of Dodo femur and phalanx bones,
leg bone 7.5cm long
toe bone 4cm long
£3,000-4,000
The dodo bones on offer - a 7.5cm leg bone and a 4cm toe bone - are from a group of dodo bones discovered in 1885 during the investigation of the Mare aux Songes swamp in Mauritius by local schoolmaster George Clarke. Hearing that a few old dodo bones had been found in this area, Clarke hired local servants to wade through the mud and feel for further bones with their feet.
Our Stansted Mountfitchet site is the proud home to three beehives, that have generously provided copious amounts of honey this year. Jars of raw honey have been offered in return for donations towards 'Red Kite Support', our charity of the year.
17 September 2025
Our October Modern & Contemporary Art auction features a curated selection of artworks, including a single-owner collection, that celebrates the influential legacy of the Euston Road Group and Camberwell School of Art.
12 September 2025
As part of her work experience with Sworders, Clara Middleton takes a closer look at the emotionally charged and psychologically complex paintings of Carel Weight. Alongside the monumental Despair (1969), a collection of eight works by the artist are offered in our upcoming Modern & Contemporary Art auction on Tuesday 7 October.
12 September 2025