An exceptional item will be sold at the Maison Jules auction house in Ghent on Sunday: the antlers of a prehistoric giant deer, which are between 8,000 and 10,000 years old. There is already interest from Germany, France and the US.
The antlers, measuring 3.3m wide, belonged to a Megaloceros giganteus, a giant deer or Irish elk. This species lived between 400,000 and 8,000 years ago and was found in Europe, Asia and North Africa. The specimen now being auctioned was found during dredging work in Germany in 1994. It is believed to have come from an animal that lived between 10,000 and 8,000 years ago. A year after its discovery, it came into the possession of the current owner’s father, who has chosen to sell it.
Prehistoric pieces like this have been really hyped over the last two years, although it remains a niche market
Auctioneer Jo Tondeleir: “When I saw it, I said ‘wow’. It’s an impressive piece that takes two men to lift. Normally, you’d see something like this in a museum. Prehistoric pieces like this have been really hyped over the last two years, although it remains a niche market.” Maison Jules estimates the value of the antlers at between €26,000 and €30,000, which Tondeleir considers a bargain. “If this were to be auctioned in the US, the starting price would be higher,” he says. “There are more wealthy people living there. The asking price is a Belgian price, so these antlers could be a bargain.” There is a good chance the antlers will be sold to a buyer from outside Belgium, with interest already registered by people in Germany, France and the United States. “This is something for wealthy collectors; I don’t think there will be 10 potential buyers,” Tondeleir says.
The sale starts at 11.00 on Sunday. Bids can be made in person, and anyone wishing to bid online or by telephone must first register via the auction house’s website .