Dinosaur Skull for New York Auction June 1
Published May 25th, 2009
From the scientific to the superbly decorative, astoundingly unique fossil specimens will be offered by international fine arts auctioneers Bonhams on June 1, 2007 during the firm’s Natural History auction in New York. The 525 lot sale offers a diverse group of high quality and distinctive mineral specimens, gold nuggets, lapidary works of art, gemstones and jewelry as well as exceptional fossils from prestigious collections around the world.
Leading the auction is a rare tyrannosaurid skull – one of only three or four Alioramus skulls to have been discovered (est. $120,000 – 140,000). Known as the ‘Tyrant Lizard from the Age of Dinosaurs,’ this rare specimen from the Late Cretaceous period was found in the Nemegt Formation, Gobi Desert, Central Asia. Although very little is known about this rare tyrannosaurid, Alioramus is smaller and more slender than its famous cousin the T-Rex, and boasts a higher tooth count. This animal was most likely a very swift hunter with the ability to be faster and more agile than many of its contemporaries. The present skull specimen is from an individual which would have measured over 20-feet in length and impressively displays the 76 serrated, knife-like teeth.
Also featured in the June auction is a well-documented Triceratops skull (pictured, left) from the Hell Creek Formation, North Dakota (est. $100,000 – 125,000). Unquestionably one of the most popular dinosaurs, Triceratops lived over 65 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period. The dinosaur is famous for its iconic three horns and large bony frill profile. Along with giving this creature lasting celebrity, the external defenses undoubtedly helped to protect the animal from its predatory contemporaries, such as T. Rex. The present skull specimen is beautifully preserved and exemplifies the famed behemoth of the ‘Age of Dinosaurs’.
The illustrated catalogue is available online for review and purchase at
www.bonhams.com/us.
Auction: June 1, 2009 at 1:00pm, Bonhams New York
Preview: Friday-Sunday, May 29-31, 2009, Bonhams New York
http://www.bonhams.com/natural
