Skeletons Considered as Artworks

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

On 16 April 2007, Christie's Paris introduced the fossil skeletons of large animals in the category of Fine Arts. The announcement made before the sale clearly expressed such an intent from the auction house, and the market followed. The mammoth skeleton of 4.80 m high sold 260 K € before fees (312 K € fees included) on an estimate of 100 K €, and the woolly rhinoceros of 4.10 m long sold 100 K € before fees (120 K € inclusive), doubling its estimate.

"On 16 April at Christie's, mammoth, woolly rhinoceros and cave bear became works of art. Amateurs and representatives of museums of natural history, and collectors of contemporary and classical art battled in auction in front of many astonished children in the attendance. "Said François Curiel, President of Christie's Europe, auctioneer of the sale.

Exactly one year later, Christie's Paris focused even bigger, with a triceratops skeleton of 7.5 m long. It was more difficult. The dinosaur was only about 70% complete, the remainder was moulded. Estimated € 500 K, it was not sold at the hammer, but Christie's found a buyer the next day to 590 K € inclusive.

Being complete is important for a fossil. This quality pushed a tyrannosaurus named Sue, 13 meters long, to € 7.6 million before fees ($ 8.3 million charge included) at Sotheby's in New York on 4 October 1997.

Another triceratops is the star of the sale of Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas on January 18. There is only the skull of it, but it is 93% complete and 2 meters long. The three horns are great and make me think to a bull disguised as a rhino. The lower jaw is remarkable. The catalog tells us that the brain cavity was very small.

This object estimated to be 68 million years old was unearthed in a ranch in Montana. It lacked a horn, but it is possible that the animal had broken it in his lifetime, as experts believe seeing traces of healing. It has been reconstituted.

This triceratops skull is estimated 240 K $.

[Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa]

Thanks for the information. I am an extremely busy person & don't get time to find all these things. You are making my work easy.
For ordinary people all these things might seem funny but for the people from the field of science, especially for Biologists these fossils are very important.
For someone like me who deals with both science as well as art this information is very important because I know the value of both.
Keep the information coming
Best wishes
Krishna

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

New Press Release by Heritage Auction Galleries - January 7, 2009

Free Dino Teeth To The First 100 Kids, Jan. 17, at Heritage

Dallas auction house offering Spinosaurus relics at Natural History Auction

DALLAS, TX - A free dinosaur tooth will be given to each of the first 100 children (ages 7 to 13, and accompanied by an adult) who visit the headquarters of Heritage Auction Galleries, 3500 Maple, in Dallas between 12 noon and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17. Each 67-million year old tooth is from a giant, meat-eating Spinosaurus, the largest carnivore to ever walk the earth, and will be given away during the preview of Heritage's Signature Natural History Auction to be held on Sunday, Jan. 18.

"Kids and dinosaurs are a natural fit, as any parent will tell you," said David Herskowitz, Director of Natural History at Heritage. "If a child goes crazy over a plastic dino you pick up at a toy store, imagine what it will be like for them to have an actual tooth of what was once a real live hunting and fighting dinosaur."

The dino teeth being given away range in size from ¾-of an-inch to 1-1/2 inches. The offer is strictly limited to the first 100 eligible kids that come into the gallery.

As Heritage has become the world leader in Natural History Auctions, it has also increased its commitment to creating the next generation of dedicated and educated collectors. A prize like the Spinosaur teeth being offered will not only make any child the envy of every kid on the block, it also presents a real, tangible link to one of the greatest creatures the world knew - or ever will know again - tens of millions of years ago. Little could serve as more inspiration, or edification, to a budding paleontologist.

"We are very committed to our role as the world's leading Natural History auctioneer," said Herskowitz. "Part of that role is to educate both our clients and their families, and to bring history alive in a way that only the real thing can possibly do."

Once in the gallery, children and parents alike will also have the opportunity to view the vast array of significant natural history treasures being offered at auction starting at 1:00 p.m. the next day, Sunday, Jan. 18.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The result is excellent: $ 250 K including premium, in the region of the low estimate.

A few days earlier, Maynards sold in Vancouver another triceratops skull for 60 K Can$. Without doubt it was less complete.