Spanish Moon Moth (Graellsia isabellae)

My recreation of the Spanish Moon Moth is driven by the desire to represent rare and endangered Lepidoptera as vibrant living creatures. Created in glass, their fragility accentuates the real threat of extinction these glorious and fascinating creatures face. The wing sets are fused in three stages using powders and frits applied via several hand cut patterns. The body is originally modelled in clay with the mould created via the lost wax process. The complex colour patterns are achieved using the pate de verre method and in order to complete the anatomical detailing, the legs and antennae are fashioned from sterling silver.