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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.


Read more


CATALOGUES


Click on the image to see the PDF catalogue

Click on the image to see the PDF catalogue

Online catalogue

Valuations / Consignments


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.

How to sell at auction
Contact us
Contact your local representative

Contact


Christian D. Link

link@kollerauctions.com
+41 79 709 02 85


Representatives


Koller Geneva

Cyril Himmer
geneva@kollerauctions.com
+41 22 311 03 85

Koller Munich

Fiona Seidler
muenchen@kollerauctions.com
+49 89 22 802 766

Koller Düsseldorf

Ulrike Gruben
duesseldorf@kollerauctions.com
+49 211 30 14 36 38

Koller Italy

Lapo Bacarelli
italia@kollerauctions.com
+39 366 994 1836

Koller China

Jing Li
beijing@kollerauctions.com
+86 135 2039 8057

Videos from past auctions >>


SELECTED RESULTS Out of this world


PTEROSAUR FOSSIL

Ramphorhynchus gemmingi Late Jurassic, 145–164 million years Eichstaett, Germany, Solnhofen Limestone 124 × 65 cm (slab) 88 × 43 cm (fossil)
PTEROSAUR FOSSIL
PTEROSAUR FOSSIL

CHF 122 300

SKULL OF EURHINOSAURUS LONGIROSTRIS

The largest example ever discovered Middle Toarcian, circa 180 million years Holzmaden, Germany 227 × 45 cm
SKULL OF EURHINOSAURUS LONGIROSTRIS
SKULL OF EURHINOSAURUS LONGIROSTRIS

CHF 134 500

GOLD NUGGET

Victoria, Australia RF Analysis: Gold: 992/-, Silver 4/-,PT 0,45/- 1 647 g 16.8 × 8.8 cm
GOLD NUGGET
GOLD NUGGET

CHF 158 900

EDDY MERCKX RIDDEN DE ROSA BICYCLE

Italy, 1974 Probably ridden in the 1974 Tour de France and/or the 1974 Giro d'Italia 167 × 94 cm
EDDY MERCKX RIDDEN DE ROSA BICYCLE
EDDY MERCKX RIDDEN DE ROSA BICYCLE

CHF 22 260

CRINOIDEA FOSSIL

Seirocrinus Subangularis Holzmaden, Germany Early Jurassic, 174 – 201 million years 150 × 80 × 4 cm
CRINOIDEA FOSSIL
CRINOIDEA FOSSIL

CHF 23 480

THE BUBBLER' JUKEBOX

Wurlitzer USA, 1947 In working condition 150 kg 152 × 81,5 × 64 cm
THE BUBBLER' JUKEBOX
THE BUBBLER' JUKEBOX

CHF 22 260

URWERK UR-105M TRINITY

Switzerland, 2023 Hand-painted bronze and black PVD titanium back Limited edition: 1/1 Ref. no. V15 0708 Includes original T. rex bone material from TRX-293 TRINITY Power reserve: 42 hours Supplied with original box and papers 39.5 × 53 × 16.8 mm
URWERK UR-105M TRINITY
URWERK UR-105M TRINITY

CHF 122 300

TRX-293 TRINITY

Complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton Late Cretaceous, 65–67 million years Three dig sites in the Hell Creek and Lance Creek Formations in Montana and Wyoming 11.6 × 3.9 × 2.65 m
TRX-293 TRINITY
TRX-293 TRINITY

CHF 5.55 Mio.

THOR'S HAMMER FROM "THE DARK WORLD"

Marvel Studios 2012 Rubber, leather 23 x 50 x 14 cm
THOR'S HAMMER FROM "THE DARK WORLD"
THOR'S HAMMER FROM "THE DARK WORLD"

CHF 24 700

APOLLO MOON PHOTO

Buzz Aldrin on the Moon NASA, red stamp 1969 Vintage chromogenic print on Kodak paper Framed with museum Glass
APOLLO MOON PHOTO
APOLLO MOON PHOTO

CHF 21 040