Iris Petal and Butterfly

This Iris Petal and Butterfly were carved from mammoth tusk, is a frozen moment of tranquility. Resting on the curved Iris petal, a symbol of courage and purification, is a butterfly—a messenger of happiness and ephemeral grace.
​The entire composition is an ode to the fragility of life: the butterfly’s wings, toned with walnut dye and silver nitrate, while two dewdrops, carved from different acrylic glass, sparkle on the petal. Even the barely visible beetle on the reverse side, inlaid with dark shell, hints at the hidden life within.
​In this miniature, signed in gold and crowned with the dewdrops, lies a profound philosophical thought: the world’s greatest beauty is found in its fleeting nature and perfect harmony.
​Size 5.6 cm. Carved from mammoth tusk, toned walnut ink and stained with silver nitrate, acrylic glass, dark shell, and 23K gold leaf.
2007. USA, private collection.