Phillips will auction a juvenile triceratops skeleton nicknamed "Cera" during its modern and contemporary art sale on November 18 in New York. The 66-million-year-old fossil, excavated in South Dakota in 2016, is the first full juvenile triceratops ever discovered and the first triceratops to come to auction in the US in over a decade. It carries a presale estimate of $2.5 million to $3.5 million. Phillips is introducing a new section within the sale titled "Out of This World," which will feature natural history objects including a Steneosaurus bollensis fossil and a golden nugget. The house has partnered with Zurich-based art dealer Christian D. Link, who previously ran a similar auction series at Koller Auctions.
This sale signals a growing trend among auction houses to blend natural history specimens with traditional art offerings, responding to collector demand for rare and extraordinary objects that transcend conventional categories. While the $3.5 million high estimate is modest compared to the record $44.6 million paid for a stegosaurus skeleton at Sotheby's in 2024, Phillips' move reflects the expanding market for fossil sales and the increasing crossover between natural history and the art world. The partnership with Christian D. Link, who has experience in European natural history auctions, underscores Phillips' strategy to capture this niche but lucrative segment.