A solid gold, jewel-encrusted "Maltese eagle" has arrived at San Francisco's John's Grill for a special showing as part of a breast cancer charity fundraiser.
The eagle, formerly known as the "Golden Eagle," is a $5 million statue weighing 18 pounds and is thought to be the world's largest solid gold and diamond-encrusted statue, according to Lee Houskeeper, a publicist for the restaurant.
The statue's owner, Canadian philanthropist Ron Shore, plans to sell it and donate $1 million from the sale to breast cancer charities.
The eagle arrived at John's Grill Friday night. under armed police guard and will be displayed next to a replica of the Maltese Falcon statue seen in the movie of the same name.
The birds can be viewed and photographed together at a special invitation-only "Birds of a Feather" benefit for the Friends of Faith, a breast cancer charity, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday.
Members of the public can view the birds Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Dashiell Hammett Room of John's Grill at 63 Ellis St.
Local
John's Grill was mentioned as a setting in Dashiell Hammett's 1930 novel, "The Maltese Falcon." One of the older restaurants in San Francisco, the restaurant maintains a room of historic memorabilia, including the falcon statue.
Below is the pitch from the man selling the statue.
