Testa di triceratopo. Venduta per 193.875 sterline inglesi, pari a 229.334 euro. Fonte: Christie’s.
Christie’s Out of the Ordinary auction on 5 September 2013 celebrated the end of a month-long exhibition showcasing a host of eclectic items spanning all eras from the prehistoric natural world to the surreal realm of science fiction. Bidders competed fiercely for over 150 intriguing items, many of which were offered at auction for the first time. After much anticipation from collectors and visitors to the public exhibition, the sale realised a total of £1,283,775. The top lot in the sale was the skull of a Triceratops, which sold for £193,875. Excavated from private land, this extraordinary beast with its three-horned head is one of the most famous species of dinosaur. One of the last survivors before the fatal mass-extinction triggered by an asteroid 65 million years ago, these 30-foot long herbivores lived with the Tyrannosaurus Rex. The horns and recognisable bony frill were probably used as defense against this fearsome foe. The example featured in the sale took around 3000 man hours to excavate.
Charlotte Young, Head of Sale, commented: “This one-off sale was very well received with strong attendance in the saleroom and energetic bidding from buyers in the room, on the phones and via the internet. The extended public exhibition attracted thousands of visitors throughout the month of August, many of whom had never before been to Christie’s and whom we hope to welcome again in the future. We were pleased to see activity from new buyers as well as known collectors, bringing the sale total to over £1.2 million. It has been a great pleasure to curate a sale with so many unusual and visually striking items. We look forward to the next specialist themed sale, the Art of Food and Drink in January 2014.”
