Something like this I believe!
that’s one of the famous ones, a Lady Macbeth stage costume from 1888. apparently it wasn’t uncommon in victorian fashion:
we should bring embroidery like this back (but w/ imitation wings). we should all be walking around with beads & wings, clanging
Bring this back in 2019
There’s a youtuber who does historical sewing and costumery who did this recently
OH MY BEETLEJUICE
To everyone in the comments- No, the beetles aren’t killed for their wings. These jewel beetles have short adult lives (2-3 weeks) and the wing casings are harvested after their death to ensure their conservation.
The Victorians did not invent beetlewing art. This species of beetle is indigenous to South and South East Asia where beetle wing art actually originated. Thailand, India, Myanmar, China, and Japan all practiced beetlewing art before the Victorians. Most notably, they have been used for centuries in clothing and art in the Thai royal court. Queen Sirikit has promoted beetlewing art in an effort to revive Thailand’s art and cultural history. Queen Sirikit has also forbidden the harvesting of the wing casings prior to the beetle’s death to protect them.
Unfortunately, it is hard to find old Thai art online but here are a couple of examples.
(Date and artist unknown. Thailand.)
(René Mancini, 1980.) Belongs to Queen Sirikit.
please reblog this version of this post, this is amazing