Tyrannosaurus Rex called Samson is for sale
Posted on Aug 17 - Filed Under Miscellaneous | View Comments
Bonhams will hold their first ever Natural History auction at The Venetian(R) in Las Vegas on October 3, 2009.
Among the approximately 50 lots of fossils to be auctioned, there will be a Tyrannosaurus Rex known as Samson, one of the largest known Tyrannosaurus Rex ever discovered. If you ever wanted to exhibit your very own T.Rex in your living room, this is the time to get it. You still have over a month to come up with the cash. Based on the previous sale of similar skeleton of a lady T.Rex Sue at $8.3 million in ‘97, Samson will also be one expensive pet to have.
The rare 66-million year old Tyrannosaurus skeleton – dubbed “Samson” – is arguably one of the three most complete specimens to have been discovered. This rare example from the Cretaceous period was excavated near Buffalo, South Dakota over 15 years ago.
Originally prepared by scientists and technicians at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, “Samson’s” skull is considered to be one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus skulls in existence. The entire specimen contains approximately 170 bones, more than 50% of the total bone count of an entire skeleton. In life, “Samson” was equal in weight to “Sue,” the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton which sold for $8.3-million in 1997.
Of further interest are pathologies (evidence of healed injury or disease) of the skull and portions of the skeleton that open a window into the life of this virtual beast. The skeleton is beautifully prepared and mounted utilizing the most modern methods, which allows for new discoveries and enhanced aesthetic qualities.
According to Peter Larson, Tyrannosaur Paleontologist: “Although research on this particular Tyrannosaurus is still incomplete, it is believed by experts to be one of four possible examples of a yet unnamed species of Tyrannosaurus. I look forward to seeing the entire assembled and fully prepared skeleton in Las Vegas.”
This animal was most likely a very skilled hunter with binocular color vision and an extremely sensitive sense of smell. In life, “Samson” measured approx 40-feet in length and could have looked into a second story window. Its massive skull and powerful serrated teeth could have bitten through the leg bone of any contemporary dinosaur. During the Cretaceous Period, Tyrannosaurs occupied a position at the apex of the food chain giving this creature lasting celebrity.
In addition to “Samson,” the October 3rd sale will also feature approximately 50 lots of high quality and distinctive dinosaur specimens and exceptional fossils. Other highlights will include a fully mounted, 28-foot-long “duckbilled” dinosaur skeleton and a 7-foot-long fossil shark from the Permian Period, which was discovered in Germany (estimates upon request).
The illustrated catalogue will be available online for review at www.bonhams.com/us in the weeks preceding the auction. The specimen will be exhibited and sold in the space formerly occupied by The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum, designed by renowned architect Rem Koolhaas.
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Los Alamos photos by William Eggleston sold for $1,022,500
Posted on Oct 14 - Filed Under Arts | View Comments
Photograps titled “Los Alamos, 1965-1974″ by William Eggleston was sold for $1,022,500, almost two times over the pre-auction estimates.
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to see larger images, but click through the image to Christie’s site, then click again on the image there in order to see a somewhat larger view.
From the lot note
“While driving through New Mexico in 1973, William Eggleston stopped at Los Alamos, the forested site of the atomic bomb’s clandestine development. He chose Los Alamos as the title for a sprawling body of work then nearing completion: approximately twenty-two hundred images photographed between 1965 and 1974. This title cloaks with some irony Eggleston’s ostensible subjects, yet acknowledges his belief in the aesthetic consequences of his private quest.
The photographs that make up this selection from Los Alamos begin at the beginning, with the first color photograph Eggleston made, of a grocery clerk pushing a shopping cart; include the center of his world- Memphis and the Mississippi Delta; trace his travels west from New Orleans to Las Vegas and southern California; and end on the Santa Monica Pier.
That day in New Mexico, passing through the piñon woods of the Jemez Mountains, past the guard gates of the National Laboratory, Eggleston turned with a small smile and said, ‘You know, I’d like to have a secret lab like that myself.’ It seems clear from the investigations collected in Los Alamos that he already had found the key to his proper place of research.” – Walter Hopps (Los Alamos portfolio introduction)
2005 Maserati Roadster MC12 listed on eBay
Posted on Sep 15 - Filed Under Cars | View Comments
Lamborghini Las Vegas listed a 2005 Maserati Roadster MC12 on eBay. Currently it is tracking at $1.3M with reserve price not yet met. We previously wrote about a recent sale in 2006 of a year 2004 MC12 model, which went for little over $1M. There were only 50 built of this car in 2004 and 2005. According to the auction description: “Maserati only produced 25 vehicles in 2004, all of which, to our understanding, were used for track purposes only, and 25 vehicles were then produced in 2005 for personal sale and use. Only 7 to our findings have been federalized for the United States.”
Track the auction on the eBay widget below:
Lamborghini Reventon for sale at Silicon Valley Auto Group
Posted on Aug 8 - Filed Under Cars | View Comments
Silicon Valley Auto Group listed a Lamborghini Reventon for sale Three months after the arrival of the first Reventon to the US, it is now up for sale. Back in May, we wrote about the first Reventon when it arrived to Las Vegas. This is the same car and it made its way to the Silicon Valley. See the pictures below taken at the Silicon Valley Auto Group’s Los Gatos lot.
Lamborghini Reventon at Silicon Valley Auto Group
The Reventón is powered by the 6.5 liter V12 Murciélago LP640 but gets an additional 20 horsepower producing 660 bhp and a top speed of 211 mph.
To inquire about pricing and sales conditions, please contact Matthew at Silicon Valley Auto Group
One Million Dollar Ice Cream Cone
Posted on May 21 - Filed Under Jewelry | View Comments
Bruster’s® Real Ice Cream™, the country’s premium ice cream retail franchise with more than 260 stores in 18 states, unveiled the world’s first $1 million ice cream cone at the JCK Las Vegas Show. This work of art is created in the likeness of its signature waffle cone. Bruster’s waffle cone masterpiece was created by renowned diamond manufacturer, Lazare Kaplan International Inc., and consists of nearly 20 troy ounces of 18k white and yellow gold, 548 round Lazare Diamonds, 87 Lazare square emerald cut diamonds, and one breathtaking 5.63 carat Fancy Intense Yellow radiant cut diamond. The 152.16 carat total weight one-of-a-kind piece has a retail value of $1 million and is for sale! Proceeds will benefit the Big Brothers and Big Sisters mentoring program which Bruster’s has just announced a corporate sponsorship with.
Lamborghini Reventon 1/20 Arrives In Vegas
Posted on May 15 - Filed Under Cars | View Comments
Remember when we told you about the Lamborghini Reventon? A $1,400,000.00 limited production vehicle (only 20 will be made) through Lamborghini? The first one just arrived at none other then Lamborghini of Las Vegas. So how does one transport such an extraordinary vehicle?
Like all extraordinary things, in a wooden crate. Here are the pictures.
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