"Dinosaurs have become cool, trendy -- real objects of decoration, like paintings," the Italian expert told AFP, citing Hollywood actors LeonardoDiCaprio and Nicolas Cage as fans of such outsize prehistoric ornaments. "Millions of people come to see it, it's incredible publicity for companies," said Eric Mickeler, a natural history expert for the Aguttesauction house. Only around five dinosaurs are put up for auction around the world every year. 'People like the teeth'The allosaurus which goes on sale Wednesday, among 87 lots of natural artefacts, is considered "small" at 3.8 metres (12.5 feet) long. But Ronan Allain, a palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum of Paris, denounced "completely nonsensical" prices.

Source: The Local April 10, 2018 03:33 UTC