Considered living fossils, nautiluses are ancient (and shelled) relatives of squid. Within a nautilus shell is a series of sealed chambers, each filled with gas. The nautilus injects fluid into the chambers (or removes it) to obtain and then maintain neutral buoyancy. The shell of Ancient Mariner is carved out of a wood like curly redwood or black acacia that reflects the appearance of a nautilus’s natural shell. The body of the nautilus is forged and welded of bronze.
The base is manzanita burl.