We are pleased to offer the artistic work of Katie VanBlaricum, whose fascination with bugs has inspired a remarkable insect art collection. She has recently introduced a "Living Jewels" line of beetle jewelry. Beetles are surprisingly durable and have been worn as bodily decoration for thousands of years by native Central and South Americans. Here's your chance to carry on that unique and beautiful tradition in the 21st century!
This necklace features a silver and black leaf pendant set with a brilliant emerald-green beetle from the Buprestid "Jewel" beetle family. Like the famous Blue Morpho butterfly, the color in this beetle is actually IN the beetle, not ON it. Several layers of light-reflecting pigments create a prism-like finish. This is a wonderful necklace to wear because it changes color slightly in different lighting. It is especially brilliant in the sun! Emerald green gradually changes to fiery maroon near the tips.
The pendant is anchored to a silver neck wire that measures 5 inches in diameter. It displays beautifully as a choker-style necklace. Pendant measures 40mm (1 3/4 in.) from top to bottom. The beetle itself is 30mm ( a little bit less than 1-3/16 inches) tall. The Beetle species is Chrysochroa fulminans from Java.
Beetles are made to live outside and are fairly water and scratch-proof. Worn normally as a necklace, this insect probably would not sustain any serious damage. The wings have been glued shut, and other precautions have been taken to ensure the best possible durability. Please do treat this as fine jewelry, though, and store it in a safe, dry place out of direct sunlight, preferably in a jewelry box.
The artist offers to fix or replace any part of a beetle that is damaged within one year.
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