UNIQUE HANDMADE FOSSIL STINGRAY BOX. ...

Description

UNIQUE HANDMADE FOSSIL STINGRAY BOX
Heliobatus radians, Diplomystus dentatus
Eocene
Warfield Quarries, Green River Formation, Lincoln Co., Wyoming, USA
This exquisite box combines the beauty of nature, ancient and modern, with the art of the skilled woodworker to create a unique, captivating and functional object. At the centre of the lid are the fossilized remains of a rare prehistoric stingray. The impossibly delicate structure of the ray's cartilaginous skeleton is most fascinatingly exhibited in the hundreds of tiny "bones" that make up the wing-like pectoral fins. Set into clear strong Lucite, it is bordered by pieces of crosscut Indiana walnut, the irregular bark outline retained to give an aesthetically pleasing reminder of the original tree's natural form; what is more, three of the small irregularities in the walnut have been filled with natural Arizona turquoise, and back edge of the lid is comprised of a strip of striking purple heart from Africa. The purple heart motif is repeated in a band on the base of the box, above which, on the face, is mounted another fine Green River fossil, this time a small example of the predatory Diplomystus dentatus, showing similarly fine detail and particularly delicate coloring. This is flanked by two further sections of cross-cut Indiana walnut, whilst the remainder of the box is fashioned from quarter and plain sawn sections of the same wood. The whole piece measures 16½ x 7 7/8 x 4¼ inches and is inscribed on the underside by the maker Stephen Rapp with details of the materials used, item number and date.

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