An especially lovely Victorian-era double-sided locket, modeled in 14k yellow gold,that framesa painterly section of morpho butterfly wing on one side, and a delicate pressed moth on the other. The little white moth lays atop the vibrant,iridescent, turquoise-blue field created by the morpho wing.On the reversethe wing is purple, turquoise blue, lavender, and pink— its figuring is a combination of dramatic rays and splotches. These specimen lockets always make us a little bit sad. They are a reminder of the natural world and its fleeting ephemeral beauties. They are rarely found in solid gold, nowadays, and theirsubjects arenot often this perfectly preserved.

Materials

14k gold
Morpho butterfly wing
Preserved moth

Age

c. 1900

Dimensions

Total drop measuresapprox