Forget paintings and sculptures. A dinosaur could soon be the centerpiece of your collection.
Christie’s is auctioning off an exceptionally preserved Caenagnathid skeleton as part of its inaugural Groundbreakers: Icons of Our Time sale on December 11.
Discovered during the 2022 field season, “Spike” is a sub-adult dino that roamed the Earth approximately 68 million years ago. He measures just over six feet tall (199.5 cm) and comprises approximately 100 pristine bones, making him one of the most complete Caenagnathid specimens ever discovered. He also displays morphological features that are distinct from those of previously known Caenagnathids, the auction house says. As such, Spike is expected to fetch between £3 million and £5 million (about $3.9 million and $6.5 million at current exchange rates) at the upcoming auction.
A rare marking on Spike’s wrist suggests Caenagnathids were heavily feathered.
Christie’s
Caenagnathids may be less well known than, say, Tyrannosaurus rexes, but they are no less impressive. It has recently been determined that this family of dinosaurs was heavily feathered—a rare marking on Spike’s wrist might be further evidence of this, Christie’s says. Since the first Caenagnathid was published in 1940, only a handful of complete specimens have been discovered. None have come to auction, until now.
“Spike is a truly exceptional specimen, and it is a great honour to present him here at Christie’s,” James Hyslop, head of science and natural history, said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to King Street to meet Spike in person.”
The skeleton comprises approximately 100 beautifully preserved bones.
Christie’s
Spike will be on display at Christie’s London on King Street in St. James’s from December 6 to 11. Those unable to get to the British capital can use the Christie’s Select app to explore the dinosaur via immersive VR from anywhere in the world. The tech also means you can envisage Spike at true-to-life scale in your own spaces and see exactly how he will fit into your collection.
Dinosaur skeletons have become slightly contentious yet highly coveted collectibles, with prices for specimens skyrocketing over the past 25 years. Stegosaurus “Apex” hammered down for a record $44.6 million at Sotheby’s in July 2024, becoming the most expensive dinosaur skeleton sold at auction. In addition, Tyrannosaurus rex “Sue” achieved $8.4 million at Sotheby’s in 1997, while fellow T.rex Stan realized a record $31.8 million at Christie’s in 2020. That makes $5 million sound like a bargain.
Authors
Rachel Cormack
Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…