I was shown this fossil as the starting point and was asked to create a stand that would display its unique beauty and do it justice. The fossil is encased in sandstone, and any design for its stand had to take into account its considerable weight, both physically and visually. Although a small piece, this was very complicated and is still one of my favorite pieces that I have designed and built.

The stand is made of Amboyna burls book-matched on all four sides. The compound angle corners are solid ebony with ebony veneers on the base and ebonized carved bun feet. The top is black granite. The holders are hammered bronze. The top comes off, allowing the inside to be filled with sand as ballast for the top-heavy weight of the fossil.

Amboyna burls are very expensive and hard to find these days. Jacques Ruhlman used them in much of the furniture he designed in the early part of the 20th century; his pieces were some of the most exquisite furniture ever designed and built.