Morpho butterfly wing jewellery is a popular choice for antique jewellery collectors, and it’s easy to see why. With their vibrant electric blue iridescent shimmer; Morpho butterfly wing jewellery is totally unique. The more antique butterfly wing jewellery I come across, the more and more I fall in love with these Art Deco pieces.
Butterfly wing jewellery has an interesting history that begins with Thomas L. Mott. During the Art-Deco period (1908-1935), Mott sourced blue morpho butterflies from South America to make jewellery. Beautiful and rare, Morpho Butterfly Wing Jewellery is a unique and intricate process that takes patience and skill.
The process of making morpho butterfly wing jewellery involves separating the wings from the body of the insect. Once the wings have been removed from their bodies, they are placed in water for a few days while they are prepared for use.
The colourful scales are then carefully taken from the butterfly wing using tweezers and placed onto a backing material like black velvet or silk. The wings are then set in resin which is poured into a bezel setting and sealed with glass. These pieces are then commonly crafted into sterling silver jewellery. Jewellery manufactured by Thomas L Mott is easily identified as they will usually bear the makers hallmark “TLM” “TL Mott” or “TLM England” on the back of the piece.
Since each butterfly has a unique pattern on its wing, the resulting pieces are truly beautiful and unusual. No two pieces of jewellery are ever exactly alike, making each item incredibly special. Common illustrations in Butterfly Wing jewellery include tropical beach scenes with palm trees and ladies wearing crinoline dresses.
Today these beautiful pieces have become available online as beautiful examples of vintage Art Deco jewellery. From earrings to necklaces, bracelets to cufflinks, antique butterfly wing jewellery is nothing less than a work of art.
I love the history behind each piece of antique jewellery and morpho butterfly wing jewellery is no exception! The iridescent colours shine bright under natural light, creating a beautiful sparkle that is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. To purchase one of our amazing Morpho Butterfly Wing Necklaces click here
