Latest news with #Sotheby
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Sotheby's to auction largest Mars rock ever found on Earth in New York; here's how it came to our planet
A rare Martian meteorite and a juvenile dinosaur skeleton are among the star attractions at Sotheby's highly anticipated Geek Week 2025 auction in New York. This extraordinary event features 122 exclusive items from natural history, spanning outer space to prehistoric Earth. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Martian meteorite, weighing 54 pounds (25 kg), is the largest of its kind ever discovered on Earth and is estimated to fetch up to $4 million. Meanwhile, the nearly complete Ceratosaurus skeleton—over 6 feet tall—is expected to sell for as much as $6 million. Both items represent monumental finds in planetary science and paleontology, making them irresistible to collectors, researchers, and science enthusiasts. Largest piece of Mars rock ever found heads to auction in New York Sotheby's will auction the Martian meteorite known as NWA 16788, a 54-pound extraterrestrial rock that is 70% larger than any previously discovered Martian sample on Earth. Valued between $2 million and $4 million, the meteorite could become a prized possession in the world of scientific collectibles. A 54.388-pound (24.67 kg) Martian meteorite—believed to be the largest known fragment of Mars on Earth iis on display at Sotheby's in New York ahead of its auction on July 16, 2025, as part of the Geek Week event. The rare specimen is estimated to fetch between $2 million and $4 million. Source: Sotheyby's How did the largest Martian rock arrive on Earth? According to Sotheby's, the meteorite originated from Mars after a powerful asteroid impact ejected it into space. The rock then traveled roughly 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) before crash-landing in the Sahara Desert. It was recovered by a meteorite hunter in Niger in November 2023. Measuring approximately 15 x 11 x 6 inches, it accounts for nearly 7% of all Martian material currently on Earth. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now To confirm its authenticity, scientists extracted a small portion of the rock for laboratory analysis. The results revealed that it is an olivine-microgabbroic shergottite, a type of Martian volcanic rock that cools slowly. The meteorite contains minerals such as pyroxene and olivine and exhibits surface melting patterns typical of fiery entry into Earth's atmosphere. Its chemical fingerprint matched that of Martian meteorites first identified by NASA's Viking missions in 1976. Dinosaur skeleton from the Jurassic period also in auction Another highlight of Geek Week 2025 is the auction of a juvenile Ceratosaurus skeleton, standing over 6 feet tall and stretching nearly 11 feet in length. Discovered in 1996 near Laramie, Wyoming, at Bone Cabin Quarry, the specimen was mounted using 140 fossilized bones and sculpted reconstructions. Its estimated value ranges from $4 million to $6 million. The Ceratosaurus was a bipedal predator from the Jurassic era, similar in appearance to the Tyrannosaurus rex but notably smaller. Its distinct features include short arms, sharp teeth, and a prominent nasal horn. Source: Sotheyby's Both the meteorite and dinosaur fossil are part of a broader 122-lot auction that includes rare meteorites, fossils, and gem-quality minerals. The Martian rock was previously on display at the Italian Space Agency in Rome, while the dinosaur skeleton was prepared by Fossilogic, a Utah-based fossil restoration firm. Geek Week 2025 offers a unique opportunity for collectors, institutions, and enthusiasts to own a piece of planetary and prehistoric history. Largest Martian rock in auction in New York FAQs What is the Martian meteorite being auctioned called? It is known as NWA 16788, the largest known Martian meteorite on Earth. How much does the meteorite weigh? The meteorite weighs 54.388 pounds (24.67 kilograms). What is the estimated auction price? It is expected to sell for $2 million to $4 million. Where and when is the auction taking place? The auction will be held at Sotheby's in New York on July 16, 2025, during Geek Week. How was its Martian origin confirmed? Scientists analyzed its chemical composition, which matches rocks identified during NASA's Viking mission on Mars. Also Read |
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
The biggest piece of Mars ever found on Earth is about to hit the auction block
The biggest Martian meteorite ever discovered on Earth is going under the hammer this Wednesday at Sotheby's in New York, with an estimated price tag between $2 million and $4 million, according to the Associated Press. The 54-pound (25-kilogram) meteorite, officially named NWA 16788, is the highlight of Sotheby's natural history-themed sale, part of its annual Geek Week 2025 series. According to the auction house, it's not just the size that makes it exceptional, it's also believed to be the largest known fragment of Mars ever found on our planet, measuring nearly 15 inches by 11 inches by 6 inches. 'This Martian meteorite is the largest piece of Mars we have ever found by a long shot,' said Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman for science and natural history at Sotheby's. 'So it's more than double the size of what we previously thought was the largest piece of Mars.' Hatton explained that the rock likely originated from a massive asteroid impact that blasted it off Mars' surface. It then travelled 140 million miles through space before crashing into the Sahara desert. A meteorite hunter found it in Niger in November 2023. With its red, brown, and grey hues, the meteorite is 70% larger than the next biggest Martian sample found on Earth and accounts for nearly 7% of all verified Martian material known to exist here, Sotheby's said. Out of more than 77,000 officially recognised meteorites discovered globally, only 400 are known to have come from Mars. Live Events To confirm its origin, a fragment was removed and analysed in a specialist lab. Scientists matched its chemical makeup to known Martian meteorites, originally identified using data from NASA's Viking lander mission in 1976. The sample was classified as an olivine-microgabbroic shergottite, a rock formed by the slow cooling of Martian magma. It features a coarse texture and contains pyroxene and olivine minerals. The rock's glassy outer surface hints at the intense heat it endured while plummeting through Earth's atmosphere. 'So that was their first clue that this wasn't just some big rock on the ground,' Hatton said. Previously displayed at the Italian Space Agency in Rome, the meteorite's current owner has not been revealed. Sotheby's noted that while the exact timing of its fall to Earth is unknown, recent testing suggests the impact was relatively recent. The Martian rock will be auctioned alongside another attention-grabbing specimen: a juvenile Ceratosaurus nasicornis skeleton, standing over 6 feet tall and nearly 11 feet long. Discovered in 1996 near Laramie, Wyoming, the skeleton was reconstructed from nearly 140 original bones and additional sculpted parts. Dating back around 150 million years to the late Jurassic period, its auction estimate ranges from $4 million to $6 million. Ceratosaurus was a bipedal predator with short arms, somewhat resembling a smaller version of the Tyrannosaurus rex. While a typical Ceratosaurus could grow up to 25 feet, the T. rex could reach up to 40 feet in length. The skeleton was acquired last year by Fossilogic, a fossil preparation and mounting company based in Utah. Sotheby's Geek Week 2025 auction includes a total of 122 lots, featuring other meteorites, fossils, and rare minerals. With inputs from AP
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
WATCH: First-ever Birkin bag sold for over R178 million
The historic sale was hosted by Sotheby's in Paris this week. The original Birkin crafted for Jane Birkin in 1985. Picture: ETX/Sotheby's© A one-of-a-kind Hermès Birkin bag, originally designed for British actress and singer Jane Birkin, has been sold at auction for a staggering €8.5 million, approximately R178 million. The sale sets a new world record, making it the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction. The final price includes commission and fees. The historic sale was hosted by Sotheby's in Paris on Thursday, 10 July, and was live-streamed worldwide. ALSO READ: SA-born artist Marlene Dumas breaks global record with over R245 million painting sale [PICS] Rare Birkin bag features initials and custom design details Described as a 'historic, handcrafted prototype,' the bag features Jane Birkin's initials, J.B., engraved on it. Unique design elements include closed metal rings, a fixed shoulder strap, and even a built-in nail clipper. Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion, called the price a 'startling demonstration of the power of a legend.' She said it highlighted the passion of collectors for rare items with unique provenance. 'The Birkin prototype is exactly that, the starting point of an extraordinary story that gave rise to the modern icon, the Birkin bag. It is the most coveted handbag in the world,' she added. NOW READ: New beginnings: Rugby WAG Marise Pollard on building a new family home after moving from the UK
Edmonton Journal
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
Jane Birkin's original Hermes bag sells at auction for more than $10 million
Article content Article content Birkin asked Dumas why Hermes didn't make a bigger handbag and sketched out on an airplane vomit bag the sort of hold-all that she would like. He then had an example made for her and, flattered, she agreed when Hermes asked whether it could commercialize the bag in her name. Article content 'There is no doubt that the Original Birkin bag is a true one-of-a-kind — a singular piece of fashion history that has grown into a pop culture phenomenon that signals luxury in the most refined way possible. It is incredible to think that a bag initially designed by Hermes as a practical accessory for Jane Birkin has become the most desirable bag in history,' said Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's head of handbags and fashion. Article content The bag became so famous that Birkin once mused before her death in 2023 at age 76 that her obituaries would likely 'say, 'Like the bag' or something.' Article content Article content 'Well, it could be worse,' she added. Article content Sotheby's said that seven design elements on the handcrafted all-black leather prototype set it apart from Birkins that followed. Article content It's the only Birkin with a nonremovable shoulder strap _ fitting for the busy life and practicality of the singer, actor, social activist and mother who was also known for her romantic relationship with French singer Serge Gainsbourg and their duets that included the steamy 1969 song 'Je t'aime moi non plus' ('I Love You, Me Neither'). Article content Her bag also had a nail clipper attached, because Birkin 'was never one for long painted nails,' Sotheby's said. Article content The bag that Hermes handmade for her, developed off its existing Haut A Courroies model, also has gilded brass hardware, bottom studs and other features that differ from commercial Birkins. Article content Birkin's casual, breezy style in the 1960s and early 1970s _ long hair with bangs, jeans paired with white tops, knit minidresses and basket bags — still epitomizes the height of French chic for many women around the world. Article content Article content 'More than just a bag' Article content When Birkin chatted to Hermes' Dumas on the Paris-to-London flight about what her ideal handbag would be, she'd been in the habit of carrying her things around in a wicker basket, because she felt handbags in the 1980s were too small, Sotheby's said. She was traveling with her young daughter, Charlotte, and complained that she couldn't find a bag suitable for her needs as a mother, Hermes says. Article content Hermes later gifted her four other Birkin bags. She kept the prototype for nearly a decade, before auctioning it for an AIDS charity in 1994. It was auctioned again in 2000 and had since been in private hands. Article content The previous owner, who identified herself only as Catherine B., told journalists at the auction that the bag 'has all the attributes of a star.' Article content 'The price is the price of the Hermes story,' she said. Article content Sotheby's called it 'more than just a bag.' Article content
Ottawa Citizen
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Jane Birkin's original Hermes bag sells at auction for more than $10 million
Article content Article content Birkin asked Dumas why Hermes didn't make a bigger handbag and sketched out on an airplane vomit bag the sort of hold-all that she would like. He then had an example made for her and, flattered, she agreed when Hermes asked whether it could commercialize the bag in her name. Article content 'There is no doubt that the Original Birkin bag is a true one-of-a-kind — a singular piece of fashion history that has grown into a pop culture phenomenon that signals luxury in the most refined way possible. It is incredible to think that a bag initially designed by Hermes as a practical accessory for Jane Birkin has become the most desirable bag in history,' said Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's head of handbags and fashion. Article content The bag became so famous that Birkin once mused before her death in 2023 at age 76 that her obituaries would likely 'say, 'Like the bag' or something.' Article content Article content 'Well, it could be worse,' she added. Article content Sotheby's said that seven design elements on the handcrafted all-black leather prototype set it apart from Birkins that followed. Article content It's the only Birkin with a nonremovable shoulder strap _ fitting for the busy life and practicality of the singer, actor, social activist and mother who was also known for her romantic relationship with French singer Serge Gainsbourg and their duets that included the steamy 1969 song 'Je t'aime moi non plus' ('I Love You, Me Neither'). Article content Her bag also had a nail clipper attached, because Birkin 'was never one for long painted nails,' Sotheby's said. Article content The bag that Hermes handmade for her, developed off its existing Haut A Courroies model, also has gilded brass hardware, bottom studs and other features that differ from commercial Birkins. Article content Birkin's casual, breezy style in the 1960s and early 1970s _ long hair with bangs, jeans paired with white tops, knit minidresses and basket bags — still epitomizes the height of French chic for many women around the world. Article content Article content 'More than just a bag' Article content When Birkin chatted to Hermes' Dumas on the Paris-to-London flight about what her ideal handbag would be, she'd been in the habit of carrying her things around in a wicker basket, because she felt handbags in the 1980s were too small, Sotheby's said. She was traveling with her young daughter, Charlotte, and complained that she couldn't find a bag suitable for her needs as a mother, Hermes says. Article content Hermes later gifted her four other Birkin bags. She kept the prototype for nearly a decade, before auctioning it for an AIDS charity in 1994. It was auctioned again in 2000 and had since been in private hands. Article content The previous owner, who identified herself only as Catherine B., told journalists at the auction that the bag 'has all the attributes of a star.' Article content 'The price is the price of the Hermes story,' she said. Article content
