Dream Drop : Art Deco Morpho Butterfly Wing Pendant in Sterling Silver by T.L. Mott

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A truly magical example of Art Deco jewellery, by the original inventor of butterfly wing jewellery T.L. Mott of England. Dating to the early 20th Century, circa 1920 this piece is modelled in sterling silver and hallmarked to the reverse.

The intensity and iridescence of this delightful treasure is absolutely astonishing. The colour is electric from edge to edge -a bright and deep cobalt blue that shimmers as light passes across the surface area of the perfect preserved butterfly wing. One of the finest examples of butterfly wing jewellery I have seen💙💜 .

Yes, a real honest-to-goodness butterfly wing is responsible for the glorious colour inside this eye-catching pendant, in this case from the Morpho butterfly from South and Central America. The Morpho butterflies are among the largest in the world, with a wingspan of 7.5 to 20 cm. The iridescence in their wings is caused by the structure of the wings which create colour through diffraction and interference. It’s a fascinating phenomenon (if you’re interested this page has a good explanation). I can’t help feel that it’s pretty neat that this snippet of butterfly, whose entire life from egg to caterpillar to butterfly is only 115 days should have managed to survive, preserved in silver and crystal, for 90+ years. That’s a pretty good legacy!

Manufacture:
Modelled in sterling silver with a teardrop of butterfly wing preserved under a crystal dome – the electric colour of this piece is every bit as vibrant as the the day it was made. The pendant is an elongated teardrop shape, with the butterfly wing dome held in a bezel setting with delicate milgrain detail around the perimeter.

Made with characteristic Art Deco elegance, the simple silver bail leads to a silver bar from which the teardrop hangs. The pendant measures 44mm (not including the bail) x 12.9mm x 6.41mm. Weighs 4.5 grams.

A fine vintage 41.5cm / 16.3″ curb link chain in sterling silver is included.

The pendant is hallmarked to the reverse T.L.M. Sterling England.

Please be aware that this pendant Must Not Be Immersed In Water. To do so may damage the butterfly wing irreparably.

Condition:
In lovely antique condition. No sign of damage or discolouration to the butterfly wing. The details remain crisp and original with no signs of repair. There are no chips to the crystal dome and only minor surface wear visible under magnification. There is one small dent to the back of the pendant and some rubbing to the hallmarks – all of which are commensurate with age and use.
A true collectors piece which should appreciate in value as these items become increasingly rare.

Description

A truly magical example of Art Deco jewellery, by the original inventor of butterfly wing jewellery T.L. Mott of England. Dating to the early 20th Century, circa 1920 this piece is modelled in sterling silver and hallmarked to the reverse.

Made with characteristic Art Deco elegance, the simple silver bail leads to a silver bar from which the teardrop hangs. The pendant measures 44mm (not including the bail) x 12.9mm x 6.41mm. Weighs 4.5 grams.

A fine vintage 41.5cm / 16.3″ curb link chain in sterling silver is included.

The pendant is hallmarked to the reverse T.L.M. Sterling England.