Unknown
Ostrich Egg, 19th century - early 20th century
Eggshell
General admission for children 17 years and under is always free
The ostrich eggshell was a popular collectible of the 18th-early 19th centuries. This egg like this is approximately 6"long and 5"wide, and could be held in the palms of your two hands together--like a toy football. This eggshell is very slightly yellow, as opposed to the white or brown of chicken eggs. It also has tiny dark speckles all over its surface. At the top of this egg there is a piece of copper wire twisted into a hanger, indicating that this was to be hung somewhere.
Macknight Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.