How to display marine objects: shells, narwhal tusk, boats

Discover how to showcase your shells and marine objects with custom displays, bases, and stands. Whether you are a collector, art enthusiast, or cabinet of curiosities lover, we will help you create aesthetic, secure, and perfectly adapted displays for each unique piece.

Presenting a shell isn't just about placing it on a shelf: it's a bit like exhibiting a sculpture. Every shape, every curve, and every texture deserves to be highlighted with precision, by choosing the most suitable base, stand, and display angle. As with a work of art, the goal is to reveal the beauty and originality of each shell, while ensuring stability and security.

photo of a magnificent shell on the beach

Our custom displays and bases for your shells

Example of mixed base creation with oak wood bases and steel structures for shells

As an expert in displaying objects and works of art, we offer you a range of displays and presentation solutions without leaving your home.

Find all our standard plexiglass and wooden displays, available for online purchase by directly accessing our online store.

Plexiglass and brass display (ref: BPA).

Removable arms

Ideal for displaying shells

I buy my displays online

The term “Marine” is both evocative and very broad. It can refer to scientific objects, souvenirs of great navigators, strange creatures that form a very particular bestiary, corals and shells, souvenirs that may have been brought back from holidays. Be aware that this trade is regulated to protect fauna and flora. They commonly have particular shapes and sizes, most often requiring a specially adapted base for each object to be presented. It happens that we repurpose found displays, but this remains quite rare.

What are the different types of bases and possible creations for marine objects?

How can marine objects be presented?

Why is this a challenge?

These are questions we can answer thanks to our experience in basing. In recent years, we have created custom steel bases, brass supports, mounts fixed on discreet acrylic bases, and composed arrangements inside antique glass globes.

Here's a glimpse of some wonders we've seen in our shop for creating object bases with a "cabinet of curiosities" ambiance.

Your shells on custom bases
under a glass dome

Generally collected for their shape or mother-of-pearl, shells are very varied and always require an adapted presentation. A simple rod or structure fixed in a plexiglass or painted block remains an effective and quick solution for instant basing in our shop.

A retaining platform can be added to secure the presentation.

Custom-made or mixed basing are perfect for this type of creation, for shells that are often light but have irregular shapes.

We can also imagine creating structures to be presented under antique glass domes, available in many sizes in our shop at Les Puces de Paris Saint Ouen.

The dome composition also allows these natural objects to be enhanced, as we did for the Galerie Sebban and its collection of painted shells.

Enhance your corals with custom creations

Just like shells, corals have no typical shape. They are all unique, often requiring custom basing.

Often fragile, like gorgonians, they can be displayed on a wooden base, an acrylic stand, or with steel structures. They can also be glued onto stone blocks, marble, or, as is the case for this gorgonian, glued onto an onyx cube.

There is also an adaptable range among transparent acrylic displays, but these are more suitable for shells.

We particularly recommend the BPA Plexi and brass displays (visible below), and the fully transparent, French-made Adjustable Cradle.

Wooden bases for unique works of art

Fascinating marine objects par excellence, rostrums evoke true mythological vestiges. With their singular forms, halfway between sculpture and relic, they embody all the strange beauty of the naturalistic world. Whether it's the instantly recognizable sawfish rostrum or the twisted tusk of the narwhal, these imposing pieces invariably draw the eye and deserve a mounting that matches their stature.

For this type of object, our clients often prefer a wooden base (weighted or not) combined with a custom steel structure, a mixed mounting that combines robustness and elegance. A metal plate can also be affixed to the wooden block to enhance stability while adding an extra aesthetic touch, emphasizing the precious character of the whole.

Finishing details of a narwhal tusk base: wooden block with ogee molding, stained and varnished, and polished brass plate with a polished golden finish

Detail of a narwhal tusk fixed on a rod in a blackened wooden ogee base

Detail of a narwhal tusk mounted on a flat wooden base weighted with a metal plate to counterbalance the weight of the object

Display your marine objects on a custom base:
a guarantee of safety.

The combination of a wooden base with a steel structure is often found for shark jaws, for which a custom base allows for discreet and effective support. It is generally difficult to display this type of piece without suitable support.

Here we see a black steel support for a shark jaw, allowing all the rows of shark teeth to be appreciated, as well as a base for a crocodile skull with a wooden block weighted with a steel plate. This is made possible by our mixed basing service.

The marine bestiary on custom bases

Among the many marine creatures, those that remind us of Jules Verne's universe will have in common shapes almost from the imagination, from the world of dreams and wonder.

Related to objects of curiosity, sculptures or real marine relics are often a feast for the eyes.

As illustrated in these examples, they can be ammonites, horseshoe crabs, or even octopus sculptures like this work by Marc Roca. The two supports presented here are made of raw steel.

The most "common" is still the turtle shell, which also must be old.

Indeed, like corals or other living materials, its trade is regulated.

Two turtle shells viewed from behind. The basing discreetly and securely conforms to the shape.

Example of a fossilized ammonite cut in half. It is presented on a black onyx base with brass uprights.

Your nautical instruments and objects precisely
mounted

Submerged objects or navigation instruments, all sorts of creations can be included in marine objects. A mixed base on a wooden block works very well with an amphora bearing the marks of its years underwater, while a boat will most often need a steel support.

For a miniature replica of a famous ship, a Plexi cover will enhance the presentation, like this one made for Galerie Delalande. This professional client has made marine objects one of their specialties. This type of model often requires a transparent acrylic case to protect it from dust.

Mounting pocket globes often presents a challenge; they need to be displayed open, which is only possible with a custom support.

Here are two examples for each material: a black painted steel display, and a patinated brass support.

Your backlit sea urchins under a glass dome: the excellence of custom bases

We created a unique piece for a collection of sea urchins.
The client wanted to combine custom metal structures, LED backlighting, and the use of an antique glass dome.
The glass dome serves a dual purpose here: it highlights the composition and protects it from dust while providing an aesthetic result.
You see two variations here, one with a Restoration-era dome with a marquetry base, the other with a slightly later (Napoleon III) blackened pearwood base. Both blend well with these objects fixed on brass structures with LED rods.
With the help of a partner mounter, we created mounts for illuminated globes with brass rods. A beautiful example of a collection display enhanced!

A secure online store for purchasing your standard displays

Plate holders, mask holders, displays for coins and medals - here's a selection of displays available for online purchase.

Discover them through our secure online store.

ACCESS THE ONLINE STORE

An easily accessible contact form to ask us all your questions about custom bases

For any questions regarding a custom base idea for your shells, contact us via the contact form.

CONTACT LA BULLE Marine heritage is a fragile heritage that must be preserved with the utmost care. All these vestiges are governed by strict regulations designed to protect them as best as possible. Our job as base-makers is to offer them a setting that will allow them to reveal all their splendor.