The Odonata Specimen was conceived to explore the intersection between the emblematic representation of nature in Florentine motifs and the structured presentation of entomology shadow boxes. The dorsal view of the dragonfly adheres to both taxonomic display conventions and the tradition of flat perspectives in insect pietre dure, a technique dating back to the 17th century that dictates a precise approach to stone selection.
Rather than replicating the surface qualities of an opaque wing or the optical properties of a transparent one, this piece captures the dragonfly’s sublime iridescence—suspended in an eternal moment to celebrate the marvels of nature.
Bumblebee onyx evokes a sunlit network of wing veins, while lapis lazuli and sodalite combine to create the illusion of shimmering iridescence within the wing cells. In areas where the wings overlap and obscure light transmission, the non-iridescent upper wing is represented by a clear layer of rutilated quartz, resting over the uninterrupted iridescent hues of the wing beneath.