A skull of exceptional size, 2.62 meters long by 2 meters wide, and two large horns 1.1 meters long.
The Big John triceratops is the largest ever discovered and will be on display from September 16 in Paris.
Arrived in the capital in 200 spare parts, its assembly takes place on Tuesday, August 31, before an exhibition to the public in mid-September, at 13 rue des archives in the 4th arrondissement.
Between 1.2 and 1.5 million euros
Main item of the annual Naturalia sale, which showcases the most beautiful and grandiose nature has to offer, the auction is organized under the expertise of Iacopo Briano.
The value of the specimen is estimated between 1.2 and 1.5 million euros.
The triceratops will go on sale on October 21 by the prestigious auction house Drouot.
All week before the auction, it will also be possible to admire Big John at Drouot, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
From South Dakota to Paris
Experts estimate Big John's age at 66 million years.
Discovered in May 2014 in South Dakota (United States), the dinosaur is then transported to Trieste, in Italy, where its restoration begins by the company Zoic, specializing in the restoration of dinosaurs.
The company had already distinguished itself by the restoration of “Cliff”, one of the largest triceratops discovered until then, and exhibited since at the Boston Museum of Science.
Thanks to the important restoration work, Big John arrives reconstituted at 60%, and a skull restored at 75%.
It remains to be seen whether this rare piece will fall into the hands of a private collector or a museum.
