Displaying fossils using fossilized plates as the base?

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

Have any of you ever used a plate of oysters or turritella as the base for an ammonite you want to display? Or maybe an echinoid? I’ll attach an example. I’m just curious if it looks visually appealing and whether you use some sort of glue or drill into the fossil?

[Ludwigia]

I think that's a nice artistic way to display things. If you like it, go for it.

[FranzBernhard]

I have not done it, but please don´t drill holes into good fossils. Thank you!

 

And instead of another fossil, what about using a normal rock of that formation as a base?

 

Franz Bernhard

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

57 minutes ago, FranzBernhard said:

I have not done it, but please don´t drill holes into good fossils. Thank you!

 

And instead of another fossil, what about using a normal rock of that formation as a base?

 

Franz Bernhard

Thanks for sharing your opinion! To your point about the rock, I forgot to mention I have this piece of a big concretion with calcite veins that might be nice to use. Also, my preference would be some sort of glue, especially if the fossil is in good complete condition to begin with. 

Edited February 8 by Shaun-DFW Fossils

[FranzBernhard]

Looks good!

This concretion could be slabbed for a few bases and also for a display piece itself.

And here comes my personal "problem": Such bases are sometimes much more interesting that the object to be displayed. In other words, the base could distract from the object.

But its a matter of taste, of course.

Franz Bernhard

[rocket]

some people are doing like this, combine fossils or other materials with fossils. Nice artwork, my wife did it a long time and I liked most of it.

There are some other possibilities to mount without drilling holes in the fossils, but if it is not a scientific fossil or a very rare one, depends on you to do or not

My opinion is, there are no rules, do if you like and as you like

 

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, show us your results 

[Jaybot]

Just did this one today.

I found this ‘petrified ripples’ plate which I was very excited to find.  We also found in the same area many gastropods.  My ripple plate has a trail imprint, so I mounted one of our better Trepospira discoidalis on it.

 

I am very pleased with the result to say the least!

 

Don’t worry, I mounted the gastro with a reversible glue (ca).  

[rocket]

wow, looks like the snail did the canyon 

[jpc]

I tried using nice slices of wood, finely sanded as a base, and I found it was not artistically appealing.  The two just did not mesh.

I also find that putting two unrelated fossils together is at least a tad dishonest.  

 

(jaybot... have you tried reversing CA... it is not easy).  

Edited February 8 by jpc

[Jaybot]

18 minutes ago, jpc said:

I tried using nice slices of wood, finely sanded as a base, and I found it was not artistically appealing.  The two just did not mesh.

I also find that putting two unrelated fossils together is at least a tad dishonest.  

 

(jaybot... have you tried reversing CA... it is not easy).  

I have, I actually have a special liquid made for CA reversal:

EDIT: I've also heard of people using acetone, haven't actually tried that myself

 

Edited February 8 by Jaybot

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

1 hour ago, Jaybot said:

Just did this one today.

I found this ‘petrified ripples’ plate which I was very excited to find.  We also found in the same area many gastropods.  My ripple plate has a trail imprint, so I mounted one of our better Trepospira discoidalis on it.

 

I am very pleased with the result to say the least!

 

Don’t worry, I mounted the gastro with a reversible glue (ca).  

Very cool, thanks for showing us! Nice artistic touch as well

[jpc]

37 minutes ago, Jaybot said:

I have, I actually have a special liquid made for CA reversal:

EDIT: I've also heard of people using acetone, haven't actually tried that myself

 

 

We use acetone and it works, but it is slow.  We have has similar slow results with CA debonder.  We use PVA (Vinac) for reversible, non-weight supporting (think sauropod femur) joins.   

[FranzBernhard]

59 minutes ago, jpc said:

I tried using nice slices of wood, finely sanded as a base, and I found it was not artistically appealing.  The two just did not mesh.

The wood catched the eye more then the fossil did? Nothing against fossils (), but wood texture is generally very appealing, big competitor for fossils, especially if its light colored.

Franz Bernhard

[Yoda]

There is a UK dealer who specialises in high end “arty” type fossil displays. 
Obviously aimed at wealthy clients who want a talking point in their lounge 
Must say, it’s not for me 

[Lone Hunter]

I've been experimenting with Hypertufa trying to come up with alternative to plastic displays.  These are prototypes,  not that heavy,  versatile,  meant to mimick stone and not compete with the fossil, and are biodegradable.  Working on making them more lightweight and adding ground sandstone for tints.  Also added texture and dirt for different look, make great orchid pots!

Edited February 8 by Lone Hunter

[SPrice]

I have yet to mount any fossils to a base of other fossils but if the display fossil meshes, mates, compliments or is tastefully partnered with the base fossil...then you have a successful display. 

 

Here's  a link to some metal stands that look great to me. Very art gallery or museum quality pieces. 

https://www.ancientartifax.com/stands.htm

 

And some of my displays. Some on stands, and some of my prepped in the matrix displays are a pleasingly authentic way to show how the fossil was revealed in the matrix which then becomes the fossil stand.  I think the slab idea is a winner and if one has a rock saw, then cut smooth rounded boulders in half and drill a hole to mount a quarter inch thick mild steel rod bent to cradle the fossil would be perfect. Of course, you would want a nice black, green or maroon felt cloth glued to the bottom of the sliced rock to protect the furniture.  I think I just might try that with one of my ammonites or small GRF fishes.

 

Display fossil in situ with matrix fossils.

 

 

A menagerie of items in the bottom of my display case. Some carvings, collected rocks,  Anasazi petroglyph replicas I made, sliced geodes from Dugway, UT geode beds, self painted Australian Aborigine style X-Ray and Dreamtime Dot paintings and a couple of fossils.

 

 

 

Just a chunk of found mahogany board carved with gouges and shoe polish stained, bottom view.

 

 

And how well it presents with a prepped, self standing,  Prionocyclus hyatti ammonite.

 

 

So pretty much anything one can imagine could work to display your fossils.

 

Now I gotta go cut some baked potato sized rocks in half. 

 

Edited February 9 by SPrice

[Alex S.]

8 hours ago, jpc said:

I tried using nice slices of wood, finely sanded as a base, and I found it was not artistically appealing.  The two just did not mesh.

I have long debated doing this with petrified wood slabs as I have some large hell creek logs. But I don't have a saw big enough at the moment.