Exogyra are a species of ancient fossilized oyster that lived over 65 million yrs.ago!
The larger fossil oysters, named Exogyra Ponderosa, are mistakenly called 'devils' toenails'.
"In nature, they look like dirty and scaly-lumps of rock. They are stumpy and coiled curious-oddities that have very little appeal to beauty by their outward appearance. They are chiefly collected and displayed as fossil specimen, but sometimes are used as ornamentals, garden-'stones', paperweights, or door stops!"
Artisan Martin Fry, Master Stone Craftsman and accomplished artisan, along with his wife Mari, have been collecting these peculiar fossils from permitted sites for a number of years, building a large collection of various types and size fossils, but mainly of exogyra!
"However, we have only recently discovered, that these common prehistoric fossil's interiors have such uncommonly beautiful patterns and stunning individual characteristics! Their inner expression was hidden from the public and relatively unknown for so long!! When carved, they reveal pleasing familiar shapes and lifelike forms, that inspire their revision into becoming exceptional expressions of art!"
"Extreme care and patience is necessary when freeing each delicate 'beauty-to-be' from its 'beastly' cloak!, We like to refer to carving these fossils as, "finding the Beauty, in the Beast"!!, (A truly extreme makeover!)"
ArtisinMartin passionately carves these brittle fossils, bringing out their inner beauty and inherent character! Martin and Mari Fry love to create these ancent fossil oysters' expression of their hidden and unique 'personalities' in 3-D sculpture, or smaller sculpted fossil art elements.
They enliven mosaics and murals to help convey great meaning with their graceful beauty!
Slabs or bookmatched pairs can be mounted on, (or inaid in), prominant walls or above fireplace mantels, etc.!
They can also be arranged or grouped to make georgeous embellishments and accent-relief frames or borders for openings or portals!!
In studying and working with this mysterious oddity-of-nature, we've discovered these and related fossil's qualities that are very interesting and worthwhile to know and behold! Even beyond the visual artistic expression, there is a deep commom element represented by these 'uncommon-oddities'!, familiar, yet so unfamiliar to many of us!
We are in the process of developing this site for such educational and enlightening purposes, and a sister site for their display and acquisition. We appreciate your time and interest and invite you to watch for the development of these new revelations!
Martin believes that these and related species of oyster fossils have been preserved since prehistory for a very important purpose other than just being shelf specimen. Their unique characteristics relate to our own inner qualities of appreciation, beauty and worth that also seek expression.
We look forward to your continued enjoyment!