How would you display large, flat fossils?

[Crazjtk]

I have a handful of flat, plate-like fish fossils that I would like to display on a wall.  Most of them are pretty ordinary-sized (25x20cm or less), but one plate is comparatively huge, 40cm wide by nearly 80cm high. If they were all small, I'd grab some of those display racks people use for their decorative/commemorative plates, but that doesn't work for a 7-kilo slab of shale.  I'd like to display all of the pieces in a similar manner so they look nice and cohesive on the wall. This would be in a living room so both appearance and reliability are important. Any suggestions? I'm not opposed to DIY solutions.

[Bobby Rico]

Don't use them decorative plate hangers because if I am right they spring loaded . This can add strain on the fossil. 

[Crazjtk]

9 minutes ago, Bobby Rico said:

Don't use them decorative plate hangers because if I am right they spring loaded . This can add strain on the fossil. 

Some are, some are basically just hooks. Either way, not what I was planning to use.

[Bobby Rico]

There are plenty of products to hang art work, worthwhile Googling. I hang fossil on the back of my fossil shelves with cheap hooks but I would,  if they was on a open wall secure at the top. 

 

Cheers Bobby 

Edited Saturday at 08:57 PM by Bobby Rico

[Bobby Rico]

I can remember who it was on the TFF but they glued leather keyring to the back of their fossils and used the ring to hang them. I see if I can find the post. 

On page 9

 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 09:13 PM by Bobby Rico

[RJB]

Yep,  and have hung many more since then too, including one big one that was quite heavy but I used a french cleat for that one.   

 

RB

[Bobby Rico]

1 hour ago, RJB said:

Yep,  and have hung many more since then too, including one big one that was quite heavy but I used a french cleat for that one.   

 

RB

 

 

 

 

Wow nice display Ron.. 

Edited 17 hours ago by Bobby Rico

[Mark Kmiecik]

Go to the nearest framing shop and ask them how to get it done. Buy the equipment/hardware from them. Most hardware stores won't have the specialized hardware you'll need.

[Ludwigia]

I find that the one outlined in red is the best and easiest solution for heavy plates.

 

[hadrosauridae]

depends on your definition of "large".  Probably the best method is to glue a backer board to the plate and use a french-cleat to hang on the wall.

[Ludwigia]

One thing to note when dealing with shale is that when something like a hanger is glued to it, especially if it's a heavy piece, there could be a tendency for a layer to peel off, sending the thing plunging to the ground.