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, with a presale estimate of $2.5 million to $3.5 million. The auction house is also introducing a new section called "Out of This World" within the sale, featuring natural history objects including a Steneosaurus bollensis fossil and a golden nugget, in partnership with Zurich-based art dealer Christian D. Link.
The sale signals a growing trend among auction houses to expand beyond traditional art categories into natural history specimens, responding to collector demand for rare and extraordinary objects. While the $3.5 million high estimate is far below the record $44.6 million Sotheby's achieved for a stegosaurus skeleton in 2024, Phillips' move reflects a strategic shift to diversify offerings and attract a broader global collecting audience. The inclusion of fossils alongside modern and contemporary art creates a visual dialogue that underscores the market's increasing appetite for cross-category collecting.