North America, Western United States, late Cretaceous Period, ca. 68 to 66 million years ago. This is a fantastic, fossilized brow horn from a triceratops (Triceratops horridus), one of the most famous dinosaurs of the Cretaceous period! This horn projects outward with a slightly curved profile, and from the wide base is a slight projection, forming the upper curve of the right orbital socket! This horn would rest before the flared frill, just above the eyes, perfect for fending off attacks and gouging predators - like modern day bulls. This is arguably the most iconic part of this animal and has beautiful caramel and umber brown hues. Size: 29" L x 12" W (73.7 cm x 30.5 cm); 24" H (61 cm) on included custom stand.

First found in 1887 just west of Denver, Colorado in the town of Morrison by Arthur Lakes and named by Othniel Charles Marsh, these large horned animals were initially mistaken for a form of bison before they realized they represented a type of dinosaur known as a Ceratopsian. The triceratops skull was heavy and distinctive: with three horns, a parrot-like beak, and a frill that could reach three feet wide, it was one of the largest skulls known from any land animal. Interestingly, most horned animals travel in herds, but the triceratops has been found more frequently in individual contexts. Puncture marks on the fossil frills of males of the species show that they used their horns to fight each other, with some paleontologists believing that this was done to impress females. Finds of blood vessels throughout the horns and frills of these animals suggest that they were not just weapons, but were also used for identification of individuals, much like the antlers and horns of modern species like reindeer and mountain goats. These horns grew throughout the life of the animal, especially in childhood and adolescence, along with the skull, which went from one foot long in babies to six feet long in adults. The horns on these babies were only about an inch long.

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private Berthoud, Colorado, USA collection

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#167926

Professionally restored and repaired. Repaired from 4 large pieces. Stable fissures and infill to fissures and gaps. Partial eye socket attached and nice coloration throughout.