Baubles, Bangles and ... Bugs!

Ancient Egypt 5550 BC - 30 BC
Jewellery designs included scarab beetles; gemstones used included Turquoise, Carnelian, Chalcedony, Feldspar, Amethyst and Lapis lazuli. The scarab, associated with the god Khepri, was considered a good luck symbol and was often placed over the heart of the deceased in burial chambers. (Photo shows Tutenkhamun's burial necklace, featuring a yellow glass scarab beetle.)

Minoans (Troy and Crete): 2500 BC - 500 BC
Butterflies were, among other naturalistic patterns, common motifs in jewellery. Stamping and enamelling were common techniques, as was gold granulation and filigree. Inlaid stones, however, were rare in jewellery of this time.

Roman Etruscans (Greek culture living in western Tuscany, Italy): 300 BC - 100 BC
Many pieces were made with filigree openwork patterns without any backing, and often used colored beads from Phoenicia, inlay and enameling. Finger rings were sometimes made with a scarab set with a single gemstone.

A long period of religious symbolism (Medieval and Middle Ages) saw very little use of insect or other natural motifs in jewellery.

Georgians: 1714 -1837
Heavily influenced by nature, including insects, most jewellery of this period was bespoke, unique and hand crafted to a very high standard. Gemstones used included all the precious stones, semi-precious stones and pearls.

Victorians: 1835-1900
Romantic and natural jewellery designs included birds and insects, even using real feathers and shimmering jewel-toned beetle cases. Gemstones used included all the precious and semi-precious stones including turquoise, coral and particularly jet.

Art Nouveau Period: 1895 - 1905.
Using much silver in its swirling graceful lines, whiplash curves and tendrils, motifs often included winged dragons, dragonflies and peacocks.

Art Deco: 1920 -1935
Predominated by geometrical shapes and vibrant-coloured gems, there was a strong Egyptian influence after the discovery of Tutenkhamuns tomb in 1922, with the use of the scarab beetle, turquoise, coral and coloured crystal.

Retro Period 1940s and 1950s
Designs and fashion were influenced by the onset of WW2 and shortages of precious metals and gemstones due to embargoes. Silver, pearls and simulated gems were used extensively. This period saw the birth of modern-day traditional insect jewellery, with an abundance of betterfly, dragonly and bee motifs.

Bug-inspired jewellery has been around for a long time and traditional-style items are still very much in demand.

The dragonfly necklace pictured right (Dorothy Perkins, £7.00) is one of several dainty pieces of adornment available from Dorothy Perkins Internet site O So You who also feature rings, earrings and brooches using various other insects in their design.

Indeed, most high street jewellers, accessory shops and store chains will usually have a range of products that feature some form of insect jewellery, normally quite traditional in style.

But what if your tastes run to the slightly more unusual, exotic or downright whacky?

Read on ...

Perhaps the traditional styling of some bug jewellery is a bit too conservative and "tame" for you? Then why not go WILD with items that feature less conventionally attractive insects and more accurate representations.

The very lifelike spider pin pictured right - and many other realistic items - are available from Lucy Jade Sylvester The reason they are so lifelike is that this artist collects dead insects for her work, but it is unclear whether she uses them as moulds or actually encases them in metal.

(£1 from every sale via this web site will be donated to the BBC Saving Planet Earth fund)

Or you could commission a piece modelled on your favourite bug at Elegant Insects ... that is, if you can't find something you like among their selection that includes horned beetle, cockroach, praying mantis, boll weevil and siverfish!

Still not funky enough for you? Then perhaps you need to look for a piece that contains a real bug!

Using insects that have died a natural death, both The Forest Floor and Insectables encase them in acrylic resin to show them off in all their full glory! The "glow-in-the-dark" scorpion bracelet pictured is from The Forest Floor, price £4.95

The possibilities for this type of bug jewellery are seemingly endless - take any dead insect, encase it in resin, add a jewellery attachment and voila! ... you have a totally unique trinket.

Of course, if you prefer something more natural (and you have a large enough wallet) you could consider buying a piece made from real amber that already contains one or more insects. The Ambershop has some delightful pieces, including the beautiful brooch pictured below. Set in 14ct yellow gold, this unique piece of jewellery contains a swarm of fungus gnats.

There are many other Internet sites selling jewellery made from this fossil tree resin.

Ok, so traditional style is too tame for you; accurate representation is a bit naff, in your opinion; and who wants to wear a real - but dead - insect?

The only option left to you, then, is to go for jewellery made of LIVE bugs!! Yes, it's true - the fashion once held to be the height of sophistication by the madcap Victorians is now back on our streets again.

Don't believe me? Check out this blog page: Giant Madagascar Hissing Cockroach He ends his post by saying, "The lifespan of these animals is approximately one year if housed and fed properly."

In the Yucatan, natives hunt the Zopherus chilensis or "Darkling Beetle" in order to make living jewellery out of them. Pictured above are two such creatures, as described at Insectia.com

The article states that "A number of animal rights groups have voiced concern over the use of these insects as live jewellery" but that, because it represents an ancient custom among these people, it would be difficult to force them to cease the practice.

The article also includes the following advice: "As any responsible pet owner, it is up to the people who purchase a Ma'kech to feed it and keep it in a well-heated vivarium when not wearing it on their lapel. Under these conditions, the beetle will live much longer than it would in the wild."

(The Natural History Museum (UK) confirms that this practice exists!!)

Find some stunning pieces here: Insect Jewellery

"This butterfly necklace is made from sterling silver and fine silver wire that has been bent into shape, soldered and polished. It hangs on a 40cm sterling silver chain."
By Mariette Waters; $30.00