PARIS: A 68-million-year old skull of a Triceratops, a dinosaur instantly recognisable from its frilled head with three horns, goes on sale at Christie’s annual “exceptional sale” on Nov 21 in Paris.

The skull of the peaceful herbivore was found in South Dakota in the United States in 1998, and named “Baby Jane” by a previous owner.

It is estimated to achieve 300,000-500,000 euros ($323,670 — $539,450). That compares with the highest price yet achieved for a Triceratops skull of 500,000 pounds ($622,100) at a Christie’s auction in London in 2021.

The previous year, a fossilised Tyrannosaurus rex entire skeleton, nicknamed “Stan”, was sold in New York City for $31.85 million, making it the most expensive dinosaur fossils sold to date.

“All children, and big children like us, can recognise this head which is emblematic,” Hippolyte de la Fronnire, director of the Paris sale, said. “Entire skeletons exist, but for collectors, it is perhaps easier to have a head in their living room,” he added.

Triceratops could measure up to 9 metres (29.53 ft) in length.

Other lots at Christie’s Paris sale include a rare haute couture Chanel wedding dress designed by Karl Lagerfeld in 2014 and a personal copy printed on vellum owned by Napoleon of a versified version of the Napoleonic code.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2023