In an unusual link between wildlife and art, twenty invertebrates on the endangered species list have been commemorated on a new crystal glass sculpture. Part of the proceeds will be used to support invertebrate conservation.
The result of a collaboration between Buglife and a cystal glass engraver, the piece - entitled simply 'Endangered' - was shortlisted for the 2007 Glass Sellers Award, and now some of the proceeds from its sale will be ploughed back into invertebrate conservation.
The idea for the piece came when engraver Lesley Pyke, looking for ideas, got in touch with Buglife. According to Buglife's Jamie Roberts: 'We felt that this collaboration was an excellent way to highlight the threat faced by these rare bugs. All of the species - like the crystal glass itself - are delicate and need to be carefully protected if they are to be enjoyed by future generations.'
The species featured include the Cliff tiger beetle, the Wormwood Moonshiner, the Norfolk Hawker dragonfly and the Shrill carder bumblebee. All are included on the Government's recent list of Priority Species for conservation action, meaning that they are endangered and declining.
Creating such an intricate piece was a serious undertaking. According to engraver Lesley Pyke, there were a number of challenges in engraving so many species onto a fragile piece of crystal glass:
"The Cullet was in danger of being destroyed in a remote glass factory in Northern France, and I was offered the opportunity to save it. I did not know whether it would shatter during engraving - if it wasn't properly looked after it could have become extinct, just like the rare bugs it features."
For information on purchasing this unique piece of art click here.
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| The Iron Blue mayfly - one of the species featured on the piece |
The species featured include the Cliff tiger beetle, the Wormwood Moonshiner, the Norfolk Hawker dragonfly and the Shrill carder bumblebee. All are included on the Government's recent list of Priority Species for conservation action, meaning that they are endangered and declining.
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| Delicate: 'Endangered' showing the Ladybird spider |
"The Cullet was in danger of being destroyed in a remote glass factory in Northern France, and I was offered the opportunity to save it. I did not know whether it would shatter during engraving - if it wasn't properly looked after it could have become extinct, just like the rare bugs it features."
For information on purchasing this unique piece of art click here.
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