It's an itsy bitsy, teeny weeny butterfly!
The Milbert's Tortoiseshell isn't a well known or "popular" butterfly, but it's one of my favorites. I chanced upon one in late autumn last year. It was trapped in an empty house that our realtor was showing us. I wanted to rescue it, there was already snow on the ground and it wouldn't survive outside or in, but I had nothing in which to contain it, and having it frantically flying loose in my car in the dark seemed like a bad idea, and so I had to leave him in that empty house.
When we took a second look at the house a few weeks later, I searched everywhere for it. And sure enough, I found it's tiny body, which now has a place of honor in my studio.
This past summer, I had the door to my studio open for a little fresh air. All of a sudden, something swooped inside and flew into the large window at the back. I was excited to see I had a butterfly visitor, and even more excited when I realised it was a Milbert's Tortoiseshell! What are the odds?? She had a torn wing, but fluttered and flapped almost too much for me to be able to catch her. I opened the door to release her and she flew with strength I wouldn't have expected, torn wing and all. If that's not a lesson in resilience, I don't know what is!
Tiny etched brass Milbert's Tortoiseshell, soldered to a sterling silver backplate. On an oxidized and beaded 18" sterling silver chain with handmade clasp.