Phareodus Testis and 4 Knightia

Here is an interesting combination of fossil fish preservation; a plate @11 x 14 inches with four poor quality Knighita and a 10.5 inch Phaeodus Testis that need a good deal of restoration. The Phareodus lacked a tail, the front of the head was gone and the body was housed on think matrix with four cracks running through the body.
By cutting the Phareodus out of it's original poor matrix then inlaying it into the Knightia plate we gained the structural integrity needed. This also added needed symmetry needed to to the Knightia plate. So we see some movement, prey swimming away from their predatory enemy and not so much negative space(balance).

Although this project required a good deal of patching and painting ,the end product is easier to appreciate.

Final touches Priscacara

With all plates present, we can see the gradual transformation from exposed rough plate, to the uncovered plate, then the finished product.

The plate received some touch ups of paint here and there. Mostly the fins that were restored needed the most attention.After the touch up the fossil material was coated with a preservative, which gives a glossy appearance and seals the fossil fish. The finished product is worth the wait.  With a 50 -55 million year old fossil there should not be any haste or rush for completion.

Priscacara Update

The Fossil fish (Priscacara) is getting closer to the final steps of restoration.At this point all the matrix is removed from the fossil, the cracks have been filled and the back is stabilized and it has been cut down to its final size. I had to restore two of the tips on the dorsal fin and one tip on the ventral fin.

Tomorrow I will touch up the fins and seal the plate.The plate is 6 X 10 inches and the fish is @8 inches.