Complete Eocene Knightia Fish Fossil - Fine Skeletal Details Fossil Plate on a Custom Wood and Brass Stand - Height: 160 mm - Width: 150 mm- 521 g - (1)

Fossil Slab on Wood and Brass Base — This specimen features a refined rectangular fossil slab housing a Knightia fish, from the famous Green River Formation in Wyoming, USA. Dated to the Eocene period, about 50 million years ago, the relic is mounted on an elegant designer base that allows optimal display, turning a fragment of natural history into a sophisticated collectible object and piece of furniture. Careful observation of the fossil reveals a Knightia specimen in an excellent state of preservation. The skeleton is almost complete and well articulated, laid diagonally on the surface of the calcareous matrix. The vertebral column, the slender ribs, the skull structure, and traces of the fins can be clearly distinguished. Fossilization has impressed the delicate bones with a coloration ranging from ochre to dark brown, creating a suggestive chromatic contrast with the light, sandy tone of the host rock. The slab preparation has been carried out with skill, highlighting the fish without altering the naturalness of the surrounding matrix. The Green River Formation is one of the most important fossil-bearing deposits in the world, classified as a Lagerstätte, a term indicating sites with exceptional preservation of organisms. About 50 million years ago, this region was a vast system of interconnected lakes. The particular environmental conditions, such as anoxic deep waters and rapid sedimentation of ultra-fine layers of calcium carbonate and organic matter, allowed the preservation of entire faunas and floras with extraordinary detail, protecting them from decomposition and predators. Knightia, a small prehistoric fish related to modern herrings and sardines, is the most common fossil found in this formation, so much so that it has been designated the official fossil of the State of Wyoming. These fishes lived in enormous schools, and their massive presence in some rock layers suggests events of mass mortality. Despite its abundance, a well-preserved specimen, centered and prepared for display like the one offered here, retains remarkable scientific and aesthetic allure. The specimen transcends its purely paleontological value to become a visually striking object. It is a tangible testimony of deep time, a genuine window into an extinct ecosystem, perfect for enriching a modern Wunderkammer, a professional studio, or a library. The mounting on a custom-made base, crafted from dark wood with brass supports, creates a fascinating dialogue between the natural, archaic element of the fossil and the sleekness of contemporary design, elevating the relic to a true natural sculpture.