A Roaring Trade
Tatler Singapore|December 2020
The market for dinosaur fossils is booming, thanks in part to a new generation of mysterious, moneyed collectors from Asia
Oliver Giles
A Roaring Trade

On a quiet, leafy road in Singapore’s upscale Upper Thomson district sits what appears to be a conventional family home. But anyone who steps through the front door is in for a shock—it’s like stumbling into Jurassic Park.

“I have more than 1,000 fossils in my collection,” says Calvin Chu, a partner at consulting firm Eden Strategy Institute. An enormous skull of a prognathodon giganteus—a 10-meter-long, prehistoric marine reptile that looks like a cross between a whale and a crocodile—sits next to his dining table. Rows of custom-built cabinets house artefacts that include the tooth of a tyrannosaurus rex, and a 4.4 billion-year-old rock, one of the world’s oldest.

“Some collectors are proud of ‘taming’ a prehistoric beast that sits on their mantle,” says Chu. “But for myself, standing at the foot of a giant dinosaur or a ferocious ancient predator humbles me, and gives me perspective on how trivial the day-to-day issues we may be dealing with might be. I guess when astronomers contend with the vastness of space, it is a very similar feeling of smallness.”

Chu is not alone in his obsession with dinosaurs. Interest in collecting fossils is booming, with prices rising astronomically as buyers vie for the top specimens at auctions and in galleries. Fossil fanatics Nicolas Cage and Leonardo DiCaprio have both made headlines with their purchases, but many of the new crop of big-spending collectors are based in Asia: secretive connoisseurs from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines have collectively spent tens of millions of US dollars on fossils over the past decade.

Bu hikaye Tatler Singapore dergisinin December 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Tatler Singapore dergisinin December 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

TATLER SINGAPORE DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Mathew Leong
Tatler Singapore

Mathew Leong

As the Norway-based Singaporean chef celebrates a milestone year both personally and professionally, he opens up about the toughest moments of his career and why failing is not an option

time-read
3 dak  |
November 2024
Asian Inspirations
Tatler Singapore

Asian Inspirations

Chef Ace Tan on his second restaurant, Asu-his love letter to regional Asian cuisine

time-read
4 dak  |
November 2024
State of the Arts
Tatler Singapore

State of the Arts

Arts nominated member of parliament Usha Chandradas discusses growing the creative economy by focusing on both supply and demand

time-read
4 dak  |
November 2024
Through a Curator's Lens
Tatler Singapore

Through a Curator's Lens

Circe Henestrosa, a fashion curator and the head of the School of Fashion at Lasalle College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, merges her personal connection with artist Frida Kahlo with her extensive curatorial experience to explore intersecting themes of identity, disability and cultural heritage

time-read
4 dak  |
November 2024
Second Nature
Tatler Singapore

Second Nature

Poet and educator Yong Shu Hoong brings fresh perspectives to the helm of the Singapore Writers Festival, from interdisciplinary perspectives to multilingual programmes

time-read
3 dak  |
November 2024
Wine Down
Tatler Singapore

Wine Down

Nothing wraps up the day like a nice glass of vino. From flashy hedonistic escapades to geeky watering holes, these new wine bars promise celebrated viniferous pours that will please even the most discerning of oenophiles

time-read
3 dak  |
November 2024
A Legacy in Silhouettes
Tatler Singapore

A Legacy in Silhouettes

Kristina Blahnik, CEO of the designer shoe brand Manolo Blahnik and the niece of its legendary founder, shares her insights on preserving the house's heritage and introduces the new Manolo's Silhouettes campaign

time-read
4 dak  |
November 2024
To Have and to Hold
Tatler Singapore

To Have and to Hold

With its sumptuous textures, Loro Piana's elegant autumn/winter 2024 collection is a chic celebration of craft, quality and the universal appeal of tactility

time-read
2 dak  |
November 2024
Scent of Strength
Tatler Singapore

Scent of Strength

Hermès unveils its first chypre perfume, Barénia―a captivating fragrance crafted by renowned perfumer Christine Nagel that embodies bold femininity and celebrates the brand's rich heritage

time-read
2 dak  |
November 2024
Nocturnal Revival
Tatler Singapore

Nocturnal Revival

Nighttime skincare rituals will get a boost of supercharged restoration with La Mer's new Rejuvenating Night Cream

time-read
2 dak  |
November 2024