Fossil and Carving Wall Art

I made this piece to practice some carving techniques. The frame is maple, with a mahogany plate carving of 4 native trees to the Chicago area. The leaves are covered in 24k gold leaf.
The fossil was found in Cincinnati, and is approximately 500 million years old. It contains mollusk fossils, which one is also covered in gold leaf. This was a gift to my sister and is in the same room as the large dining room table.

-- Andy Brownell