Big 5 Map Egg with moulded stand

This genuine ostrich egg was sourced from the Karoo in Africa, the home of the South African ostrich. Decoupaged with an antique world atlas design and trimmed with a Big 5 African Animal border, this stunning work of art offers the discerning buyer a truly unique gift. Great care has been taken to preserve the intricate detail in the map and each egg has been decorated with love and care by skilled African craftsmen. What’s more, this beautiful decoupage ostrich egg has been perfectly paired with a hand painted polystone buckhorn stand to showcase the remarkable design of the egg. Own this bespoke unisex African gift today and make it the centrepiece of your interior design.

About the Big 5

The Big 5, a term originally coined by big game hunters in the 20^th century to describe the most dangerous African animals to hunt on foot, is comprised of the Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Leopard and the Cape Buffalo. Naturally found in only 11 countries in the world these animals rank among the most poached/endangered species in Africa. These days however the legal big game hunting trade is severely limited with countries realizing that eco-tourism is more valuable in the long run. Now, tourists from all over the world rather come to Africa to "shoot" the Big 5 with their cameras.

DECORATIVE OSTRICH EGG DIMENSIONS

• Egg height: 155mm / 6.1"
• Egg diameter: 125mm / 4.9"
• Egg & stand combined height 225mm / 8.85"

SUSTAINABLY SOURCES OSTRICH EGGS

We only use export-quality, authentic ostrich eggs, which have been sourced from the arid Karoo region of Southern Africa. Ostriches thrive in these conditions and lay eggs that typically vary in size between 13cm-15cm. Once the egg is collected the yoke is removed from the unfertilized egg and the shell is treated and sterilized.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS

After sterilization is complete the manufacturing process begins. Each egg is decorated with care by our African craftsmen. A minimum of fifty layers of decoupage is applied to the egg to increase its strength. This process takes countless of hours and ultimately yields a hardy egg that is between 2.5cm – 3cm in thickness. This lengthy process hardens the ostrich egg to the extent that each egg can withstand up to 120kgs of vertical pressure. Given the fact that each egg varies in size and design; due to the manual processes employed, each egg is essentially a unique piece of African art.

DECORATIVE STANDS

Each of our decoupage ostrich eggs is paired with a complimentary stand that showcases the beautiful design of the eggs and offers a functional stable base for the eggs to rest on. Each stand is manufactured from durable polystone and then hand-painted by our artists.

ABOUT OSTRICHES

The South African ostrich (Struthio camelus australis) is a subspecies of the common ostrich, a specie of large flightless bird native to Southern Africa. Also known as the Black-necked ostrich, Cape ostrich or Southern ostrich they are widely farmed for their meat, eggs, and feathers. They usually weigh from 63 to 145 kilograms (139–320 lb) with exceptional males weighing up to 156.8 kg (346 lb). Their skin is primarily used for premium leather products and the meat is marketed commercially as a lean alternative to beef.

They have a lifespan of up to 45 years and their diet mainly consists of plant matter, especially roots, seeds and leaves, although it is not uncommon for them to also eat locusts, lizards, snakes and rodents. Ostriches also consume sand and pebbles which help grind up their food inside their gizzard; a small pouch where food is crushed and ripped up before it reaches the stomach.

Ostriches live in nomadic groups of 5 to 50 birds and when threatened, will either hide by lying flat against the ground or run away. Contrary to popular belief, ostriches don't bury their heads in the sand, but they do lie down with their heads against the ground when they feel threatened. It therefore only looks like the ostrich has buried its head because its head and neck blend in with the colour of the sand. Ostriches can run at speeds of over 70 km/h (43 mph) and can cover 3 to 5 m (9.8 to 16.4 ft) in a single stride. If cornered however, they can attack with devastating accuracy. A kick from their powerful legs have been known to kill lions.

These remarkable birds are extremely well adapted to the harsh African conditions and require relatively little water to survive since they derive most of the moisture they need, from the plants they eat. Their ability to regulate their temperature in very hot conditions make them ideally suited to Sub Saharan Africa.

FREE SHIPPING FOR USA:

We offer free shipping for USA customers for order over $50. Please note that for customers in other countries shipping will be calculated on checkout. Please refer to our shipping policies page for further details.

SALES TAX, VAT, AND CUSTOMS DUTY

Please note the above price excludes sales tax, VAT or customs or import duties. United States customers will have sales tax added upon checkout where required, and South African clients will have VAT added. For the rest of the world you may incur import duties that are for your account.