Dinosaur Skeleton Brings Bidders to Phillips' $67.3 Million Sale
In a surprise turn of events, a young Triceratops skeleton became the crown jewel of Phillips' latest auction sale, fetching $5.4 million and solidifying the ongoing trend of dinosaur fossils as sought-after investments.
The juvenile Triceratops, dated to 66 million years ago and the first of its species ever to appear at auction, was part of a specialty sale that brought together high-profile artworks with natural history highlights. The auction's success marked a significant shift in Phillips' strategy, focusing on storytelling and marketing through deep time rather than traditional blue-chip narratives.
"We're seeing collectors eager for works that spark curiosity and transcend traditional categories," said Miety Heiden, chairman of private sales at Phillips. "The result underscores the appetite for rare and extraordinary pieces that challenge convention."
While the Triceratops sale drew significant attention, it was not alone in its success. Francis Bacon's Study for Head of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer sold for $16 million, a staggering sum for a work from 1967. The evening also saw strong results for Joan Mitchell, Jackson Pollock, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Camille Pissarro.
Women artists continued to shine, with Alma Thomas's Untitled collage selling for $477,300 and Ruth Asawa's Untitled (S.230) more than doubling its estimate. Rising Colombian artist Olga de Amaral also made a splash with her luminous golden textile Alquimia 62.
However, not all lots fared as well. A young abstraction by record-setting enfant prodige Jadé Fadojutimi went unsold despite its ambitious $1 million-2 million estimate. The Thunderbolt, the longest gold nugget ever discovered, also failed to find a buyer.
Phillips' chairman Robert Manley attributed the success of the sale to the house's new priority bidding system, which helped secure early commitments and interest on most lots. With strong participation from collectors worldwide and competitive bidding across various art movements, tonight's outcome reaffirmed confidence in the long-term strength of the market.
In a surprise turn of events, a young Triceratops skeleton became the crown jewel of Phillips' latest auction sale, fetching $5.4 million and solidifying the ongoing trend of dinosaur fossils as sought-after investments.
The juvenile Triceratops, dated to 66 million years ago and the first of its species ever to appear at auction, was part of a specialty sale that brought together high-profile artworks with natural history highlights. The auction's success marked a significant shift in Phillips' strategy, focusing on storytelling and marketing through deep time rather than traditional blue-chip narratives.
"We're seeing collectors eager for works that spark curiosity and transcend traditional categories," said Miety Heiden, chairman of private sales at Phillips. "The result underscores the appetite for rare and extraordinary pieces that challenge convention."
While the Triceratops sale drew significant attention, it was not alone in its success. Francis Bacon's Study for Head of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer sold for $16 million, a staggering sum for a work from 1967. The evening also saw strong results for Joan Mitchell, Jackson Pollock, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Camille Pissarro.
Women artists continued to shine, with Alma Thomas's Untitled collage selling for $477,300 and Ruth Asawa's Untitled (S.230) more than doubling its estimate. Rising Colombian artist Olga de Amaral also made a splash with her luminous golden textile Alquimia 62.
However, not all lots fared as well. A young abstraction by record-setting enfant prodige Jadé Fadojutimi went unsold despite its ambitious $1 million-2 million estimate. The Thunderbolt, the longest gold nugget ever discovered, also failed to find a buyer.
Phillips' chairman Robert Manley attributed the success of the sale to the house's new priority bidding system, which helped secure early commitments and interest on most lots. With strong participation from collectors worldwide and competitive bidding across various art movements, tonight's outcome reaffirmed confidence in the long-term strength of the market.
I mean, who wouldn't want to shell out $5.4 million for a young Triceratops skeleton? It's like buying a piece of prehistoric history... or a really expensive toy! 
But seriously, collectors are getting more adventurous, and it's awesome to see women artists killing the game (again). 
I'm not surprised Francis Bacon's study sold for $16 million, though – he was like the original art-world rockstar. 
And what's up with this rising Colombian artist Olga de Amaral? Sounds like she's making waves in the art world, and I'm all about it! 
I mean, can you believe a 66 million year old Triceratops skeleton went for $5.4 million? 
That's like buying a piece of history! I think it's awesome that collectors are willing to pay big bucks for unique pieces that spark curiosity. It just goes to show how much people care about preserving our past and sharing it with the world through art 
. And who knows, maybe Jadé Fadojutimi's work will make a comeback? 
meanwhile some really talented artists are struggling to sell their work for like a fraction of that amount and we need more art programs in schools 
Their work is finally getting the recognition it deserves 
. What's next, though? Will we see more fossil sales in the future? Only time will tell! 
. I guess it's all about the thrill of the hunt and the bragging rights that come with owning something ridiculously expensive 
.
and man, I'm still reeling from all the breathtaking views! Have you ever seen a sunrise over the Pacific Ocean? It's like the whole sky is on fire 
it's all good tho, Phillips is bringing in the big bucks and collectors are getting their fix of weird & wonderful art pieces 
, dinosaur fossils are like the ultimate collector's item, right? they're like a time capsule from millions of years ago! and it's so cool that philips is bringing art and nature together - it's like they're trying to make us appreciate the beauty in everything around us 
. i'm also loving the fact that women artists are killing the game right now 
. It's all about storytelling and marketing through deep time now 
. And can you believe Francis Bacon's Study for Head of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer went for $16 million? 
? And don't even get me started on women artists finally getting their due... it's about time, but like, what's the point if they're just gonna sell for some small fraction of a triceratops skeleton 
. On the bright side, I guess it's cool that Phillips is trying new things with their bidding system, even if it didn't work out for all the artists 
. And the artwork sales weren't bad either - Francis Bacon's Study for Head of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer went for $16 million?! Mind blown 
! The rise of women artists is awesome too, with Alma Thomas and Ruth Asawa getting major price boosts