Phillips' $67.3 Million Evening Sale: A Triceratops and Francis Bacon Steal the Show
The New York auction house Phillips has proven once again that dinosaurs are not only a trend, but also a lucrative investment opportunity for collectors. The house's November evening sale surpassed last year's result by 24 percent, with a total of $67.3 million in sales across 33 lots.
At the center of the action was a rare juvenile Triceratops skeleton, which sold for a staggering $5,377,000. This is not only a remarkable price for a fossil, but also marks a significant milestone as the first of its species to appear at auction. The fact that it fetched over twice its estimated value suggests that dinosaurs are becoming increasingly desirable among collectors.
The success of the Triceratops sale was attributed to Phillips' strategic approach, which focuses on connecting artworks with deep time and evoking a sense of wonder and curiosity. This is reflected in the house's new Out of This World label, which pairs institutionally recognized blue-chip artists with natural history highlights.
Francis Bacon's highly anticipated "Study for Head of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer" (1967) was another top performer, selling for $16,015,000. The work, considered a highlight of the sale, was neatly within its estimated range, reflecting growing demand for the artist's works.
The evening also saw strong results for other blue-chip artists, including Joan Mitchell and Jackson Pollock. A highly competitive bidding war ensued over Mark Tansey's "Revelever," which sold for $4,645,000 despite its high estimate of $2,500,000-3,500,000.
Women artists delivered some impressive performances, with Alma Thomas's 1968 collage selling for $477,300 and Ruth Asawa's 2019 work exceeding its estimated value at $1,006,200. The sale also included strong results for rising Colombian artist Olga de Amaral and a rare natural formation, the longest gold nugget ever discovered.
Phillips' chairman Robert Manley attributed the success of the evening to the house's new priority bidding system, which secured early commitments and interest on most lots. This contributed to an impressive 91 percent of works selling within or above estimate. The results confirmed not only the enduring draw of blue-chip artists but also the market's resilience and ongoing global demand.
As collectors continue to seek out rare and extraordinary pieces that challenge convention and expand the boundaries of what collecting can be, Phillips' $67.3 million evening sale is a testament to the power of art and nature to captivate our imagination.
The New York auction house Phillips has proven once again that dinosaurs are not only a trend, but also a lucrative investment opportunity for collectors. The house's November evening sale surpassed last year's result by 24 percent, with a total of $67.3 million in sales across 33 lots.
At the center of the action was a rare juvenile Triceratops skeleton, which sold for a staggering $5,377,000. This is not only a remarkable price for a fossil, but also marks a significant milestone as the first of its species to appear at auction. The fact that it fetched over twice its estimated value suggests that dinosaurs are becoming increasingly desirable among collectors.
The success of the Triceratops sale was attributed to Phillips' strategic approach, which focuses on connecting artworks with deep time and evoking a sense of wonder and curiosity. This is reflected in the house's new Out of This World label, which pairs institutionally recognized blue-chip artists with natural history highlights.
Francis Bacon's highly anticipated "Study for Head of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer" (1967) was another top performer, selling for $16,015,000. The work, considered a highlight of the sale, was neatly within its estimated range, reflecting growing demand for the artist's works.
The evening also saw strong results for other blue-chip artists, including Joan Mitchell and Jackson Pollock. A highly competitive bidding war ensued over Mark Tansey's "Revelever," which sold for $4,645,000 despite its high estimate of $2,500,000-3,500,000.
Women artists delivered some impressive performances, with Alma Thomas's 1968 collage selling for $477,300 and Ruth Asawa's 2019 work exceeding its estimated value at $1,006,200. The sale also included strong results for rising Colombian artist Olga de Amaral and a rare natural formation, the longest gold nugget ever discovered.
Phillips' chairman Robert Manley attributed the success of the evening to the house's new priority bidding system, which secured early commitments and interest on most lots. This contributed to an impressive 91 percent of works selling within or above estimate. The results confirmed not only the enduring draw of blue-chip artists but also the market's resilience and ongoing global demand.
As collectors continue to seek out rare and extraordinary pieces that challenge convention and expand the boundaries of what collecting can be, Phillips' $67.3 million evening sale is a testament to the power of art and nature to captivate our imagination.
The thing is, it's not just about the price tag. It's about what makes these pieces so valuable in the first place... 
Dinosaur fossils, for example? Come on, who thought that was a good idea to auction off a Triceratops skeleton?! 
I mean, I guess if you're into that sorta thing, it's not like anyone's going to stop you from buying it. But seriously, $5,377,000 is a whole lotta cash for something that's literally just bones... 
collectors are totally obsessed with those prehistoric fossils right now lol... like who wouldn't wanna shell out 5.4 million for a skeleton that's only 2 million estimated 
but seriously though, it's pretty cool how Phillips is trying to connect art and nature in a way that just draws people in 
and yeah, Alma Thomas and Ruth Asawa killing the game with those sick collages 
can't wait to see what other amazing pieces come up for auction next 
The Triceratops was totally worth every penny - I mean who wouldn't want a piece of history that's over 65 million years old? 
And can we talk about Francis Bacon's work? That "Study" sold for $16M+ and it's just so cool to see these artists' pieces going for record-breaking prices 
. But what I'm really excited about is all the women artists getting their due recognition - Alma Thomas and Ruth Asawa killed it in this sale! 
The market is definitely responding to the demand for more diversity and inclusivity, and that's a good thing 
. Phillips' new bidding system also seems to be working its magic - 91% of works sold within or above estimate? That's some next-level collector savvy 
. Anyway, I'm just here for the dinosaur sales now 
and the fact that phillips was able to connect with collectors on a deep level with their out of this world label is genius 
The fact that dinosaur fossils are getting sold for millions is wild 
On the other hand, it's awesome that women artists like Alma Thomas and Ruth Asawa are finally getting the recognition they deserve 
anyway, phillips' auction house is literally crushing the game right now 
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. And what's with the "Out of This World" label? Sounds like some cheesy marketing gimmick to me 
.
. anyway, can't help but think that if we're gonna spend that kind of cash on fossilized bones, shouldn't we be investing in more pressing issues like climate change or education? just saying 
. But you know what's even crazier? The fact that collectors are willing to pay top dollar for art and fossils that transport us out of our everyday lives 
. It just goes to show how much value we place on unique experiences and discoveries. Phillips is definitely killing the game with their new Out of This World label 
and Francis Bacon's painting, "Study for Head of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer", is that supposed to be some kind of commentary on our society or something? 
also, why are all these artists being paired with natural history highlights? It's like they're trying to merge the two worlds in a way that makes us question reality... 
! They just sold this super rare Triceratops skeleton for over $5 million 
, but what I love is how this sale shows the market is still super strong and collectors are willing to pay top dollar for something truly unique and amazing 