Silver Spiders

Whether it's "Ewww!" or "Oooh!", spiders always seem to provoke a strong reaction. Show your fondness for nature's most misunderstood arthropod with these stylized, shiny spiders, available as a pendant (including an 18" cable chain) or as dangly earrings with French hooks. Each spider is 1" long.

Spider Pendant: $25.00

Spider Earrings: $32.00

Spider Set: $55.00

Scarab Beetles

These sterling silver beetles are based on the South American scarab Anomiopsoides heteroclyta, which sports a forklift-like pair of horns.

The pendant measures 7/8" and includes a black rubber cord with silver clasp; the tack-style pin and post-backed earrings are just over 1/2".

Scarab Pendant: $30.00

Scarab Tie Tack: $12.00

Scarab Earrings: $24.00

Smiling Salticid Pin

Salticids, better known as jumping spiders, are common visitors to gardens and windowsills and are among the most personable of spiders. This tack-style pin, 3/4" high, looks out at the world through a pair of hematite cabochon eyes (and a pair of silver ones as well).

$25.00

Chinese "Jade" Cicada

Highly stylized jade cicadas, symbolizing rebirth and renewal, have been a part of traditional Chinese culture since the Han Dynasty. In Buddhist tradition, they reflect the transcendence of the spirit from earthly things.

Silverspot Studio's 1 1/4" "Jade" Cicada Pendant, cast in solid sterling silver, now has an updated look, featuring a sterling silver bead that binds an 18" leather cord with a sterling clasp. Click on the image to see the detailed reverse side!

$45.00

"Jade" Cicada Tack Pin

Based on the same original as the pendant, but on a smaller scale, this little (11/16") pin will prevent your tie from ascending to a higher plane.

$15.00

Fancy Dobsonfly Pendant

Dobsonflies (Order Megaloptera) are the adult form of the hellgrammite, which is commonly used as fish bait. This surprisingly feminine 1 3/4" pendant was cast from an actual dobsonfly head using the "lost bug process." The long antennae and fearsome mandibles frame a bezel-set gemstone; choose from blue-green chrysoprase (shown), dark green jade, or hematite. Comes with its own 18" sterling rope chain.

$45.00

Macho Dobsonfly Pendant

This 1 3/8" pendant, decidedly more "butch" than the Fancy Dobsonfly, was cast from an exceptionally large male specimen. It hangs from a sleek 18" black rubber cord finished with sterling beads and findings. Choose from a luminous red carnelian (shown) or lustrous hematite.

$35.00

Silphid Beetle Pin

Silphids, commonly known as burying or sexton beetles, are among Earth's most important "janitors," as they bury small dead animals. This one, a member of the Necrodes genus, features the sculpted, leathery elytra typical of this family. It measures a larger-than-life 1 7/8".

$45.00

Fly of Valor

Ancient Egyptians were all too familiar with the single-minded persistence of biting flies - so much so that flies came to represent tenacity and viciousness in battle and were presented to the best warriors as symbols of valor.

This 7/16" tack pin, available in sterling or bronze, was modeled after originals in the British Museum. Award one to your bravest warrior - or favorite pest.

Bronze: $7.00

Sterling: $10.00

Tiger Beetle Belt Buckle

The bright colors and wary behavior of tiger beetles make them among the most rewarding insects to collect - so much so that "tiger beetlers" (myself included) will brave any adversity in pursuit of their tiny prey. Announce your passion for tiger beetles with this formidable 3" long belt buckle, cast in lustrous antiqued bronze. Grrrr!

Fits belts up to 1 1/2" wide. Click the picture to see the tiger beetle in action.

$45.00

Bee Bole Belt Buckle

Bee boles - niches built into walls for the purpose of sheltering straw beehives from wind and cold - were prevalent in the British Isles from as early as 1250 to the late 1800's. Today, they form the basis for a unique field of study - apicultural archaeology.

This 1 3/4" belt buckle, available in solid bronze or sterling silver, shows a traditional straw skep hive on a historically accurate slate base, sitting cozily in a bee bole based on those at Glassaugh House, near Fordyce, Scotland.

Fits belts up to 1 1/2" wide.

Bronze: $35.00

Sterling: $125.00

Skep Hive Pin

This 15/16" tack-style pin is hand-cut from the same mold as the Bee Bole Buckle. Sterling silver.

$25.00

Gomphid Belt Buckle

Clubtail dragonflies (Family Gomphidae) are distinguished from other dragonflies by their widely spaced eyes and distally broadened (clubbed) abdomen. Males of this family can often be found "dogfighting" over territory along the banks of the streams that they seem to prefer.

This gomphid's clubbed tail hides the prong of the buckle, while the wings conceal the bar. The trim design goes just as well with dress slacks as it does with hip waders. Accepts belts up to 1 1/2" wide.

Bronze: $35.00

Sterling: $65.00