A giant reconstructed skin from T-Rex cells was not sold at the auction in Paris, the maximum bid being 150,000 euros, below the estimate of 300,000 euros.

At an auction held in Paris, a giant handbag made from reconstituted Tyrannosaurus Rex cells was not sold, as the proposed price was significantly lower than the asking price. The Giquello auction house put the bag up for sale with a starting price of 100,000 euros, but the highest bid only reached 150,000 euros, whereas the estimated value was 300,000 euros. The creation of this unique piece was made from collagen extracted from the femur of a T-Rex discovered in Montana, USA, 20 years ago.

Paleontology expert Iacopo Briano explained that modern technologies allow for the reconstitution of dinosaur skin in the laboratory. However, another expert, Mary Schweitzer, contested this claim, emphasizing that the skin of the handbag does not actually come from a T-Rex, but is made from collagen, a common molecule found in most animals. The auction commissioner mentioned that the price was invented to reflect the rarity and necessary investments, but acknowledged that the sum of 300,000 euros was excessive. Drouot described the bag as a precedent-setting object in the history of luxury and an innovative scientific achievement.