09 September,2015 07:36 AM IST | | Agencies
A foul-smelling chunk of ambergris found by a dog walker on a beach in the UK is expected to fetch him £7,000 (approximately Rs 7.2 lakh) at the first auction of its kind
The vendor was out walking his dog when it ran over to this object (whale vomit) and wouldnu00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u0099t leave it alone, said the auctioneer.
London: An extremely rare lump of whale vomit found by a dog walker on a beach in the UK is expected to fetch 7,000 pounds at the first auction of its kind.
The vendor was out walking his dog when it ran over to this object (whale vomit) and wouldn't leave it alone,
said the auctioneer. Pic/AFP
The chunk of ambergris - a waxy rock-like substance that can prolong the scent of perfume - was found washed-up on the shore near north Wales.
The ambergris, that measures 8 inches by 6 inches and weighs 1.1 kg, could have been floating in the sea for decades before it came ashore.
Ambergris is produced in the intestines of sperm whales to protect them from the sharp beaks of squid which they eat and is passed as vomit.
The substance is used in the perfumery industry and has sold for thousands of pounds privately before.
"Our vendor was out walking his dog when it ran over to this object and wouldn't leave it alone," said Chris Surfleet, senior valuer and auctioneer.
"He took it home, did a bit of research and suspected it was ambergris and knew it had a value, so he came to us. We are 100 per cent certain it is ambergris. A number of people with experience with ambergris have studied it who have confirmed it," he said.
"It is a bit like gold in that it comes down to the price per gram. There is a lot of interest in unusual items these days," he said.
It is illegal to trade in ambergris in many countries, but when it is found washed up, the discoverer can keep it.
