Out of This World
Natural History, Space Exploration, Entertainment Memorabilia
A contemporary cabinet of curiosities
Cabinets of curiosities, also called ‘Wunderkammer’, were popular among the European royalty, aristocracy and scholars since the beginning of the Italian Renaissance. They contained a wide variety of fantastic objects and artefacts, with an emphasis on the rare, eclectic and esoteric. Through the vast selection of objects, these collections told a particular story about the world and its history
Today it is still possible to start or expand such a collection of fascinating and unique objects. An exciting new department at Koller presents items from a modern cabinet of curiosities: meteorites, dinosaur fossils, geological wonders, as well as momentos from the history of space exploration and rare memorabilia from the film and music industries.
TRX–293 TRINITY
THE FIRST TYRANNOSAURUS REX SKELETON EVER TO BE OFFERED AT AUCTION IN EUROPE
Sold for CHF 5.5 million
After the extremely successful first ‘Out of This World’ auction in June 2022, the highly anticipated sequel took place on 18 April 2023.
The undisputed star of the auction was the approximately 67-million- year-old TRX-293 TRINITY Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.
For the first time in Europe and only the third time worldwide, a skeleton of an entire T. rex dinosaur of exceptional quality was offered at auction.
With an astonishing length of 11.6 metres (38 feet) and a towering height of 3.9 metres (12.8 feet), Trinity is one of the most spectacular T. rex skeletons in existence, a well-preserved and brilliantly restored fossil.
TRINITY LANDING PAGE
Click on the button below to learn more about Trinity, and and even download an augmented reality 3D model and place the T. rex in your living room!
TRINITY T. REX LANDING PAGE
TRINITY THE T. REX WILL BE EXHIBITED TO THE PUBLIC
THE PHOEBUS FOUNDATION WILL INCLUDE TRINITY IN ITS ‘BOERENTOREN’ CULTURAL CENTRE IN ANTWERP, BELGIUM
The buyer of Trinity, the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton sold for CHF 5.5 million ($6 million) at Koller Auctions in Zurich on 18 April, is The Phoebus Foundation, a non-profit art foundation. Phoebus has announced their intention to show Trinity to the public in their ‘Boerentoren’ cultural centre project in Antwerp, designed by Daniel Libeskind.
The Boerentoren (literally translated as ‘Farmer’s Tower’, a nickname that stuck) was the first skyscraper in Europe, completed in 1931. In 2021, the tower, originally constructed as an office building with apartments, was purchased by The Phoebus Foundation, which will turn it into a public space in a few years. The entire building will be dedicated to culture, with extensive space for temporary and long-term exhibitions, a sculpture garden and a panoramic viewpoint, as well as numerous culinary experiences. Daniel Libeskind is currently working on the final designs to convert what remains of the original art deco building into a truly unique architectural landmark. The addition of Trinity to the collection of The Phoebus Foundation will only add to the Boerentoren’s appeal.
Trinity already enchanted approximately 35 000 visitors during a three-week exhibition at the Tonhalle concert hall in Zurich, and has been featured in countless press articles, television and radio broadcasts and blogs worldwide.
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CATALOGUES
Click on the image to see the PDF catalogue
If you wish to consign to one of our auctions, we will value your artworks free of charge. Please send us photos if possible, or call us. We will arrange an appointment to view your property at your home or in one of our offices in Zurich, Geneva, Florence, Munich or Düsseldorf. You will then receive our auction estimates so that you can make your decision.
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SELECTED RESULTS Out of this world
PTEROSAUR FOSSIL
CHF 122 300
SKULL OF EURHINOSAURUS LONGIROSTRIS
CHF 134 500
GOLD NUGGET
CHF 158 900
EDDY MERCKX RIDDEN DE ROSA BICYCLE
CHF 22 260
CRINOIDEA FOSSIL
CHF 23 480
THE BUBBLER' JUKEBOX
CHF 22 260
URWERK UR-105M TRINITY
CHF 122 300
TRX-293 TRINITY
CHF 5.55 Mio.
THOR'S HAMMER FROM "THE DARK WORLD"
![THOR'S HAMMER FROM "THE DARK WORLD"](/CatCache/catcache.2/pictures/506302/506302_M_1.jpg "THOR'S HAMMER FROM "THE DARK WORLD"")
CHF 24 700
APOLLO MOON PHOTO
CHF 21 040