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Butterfly Wing Marquetry
Dominique Arpa-Cirpka, an artist based in Collonge-Bellerive near Geneva, pioneered the use of butterfly wing marquetry in 2009 and has since created dials featuring actual butterfly wing fragments that are pieced together for ArtyA, the brand founded by her husband, Yvan Arpa.
More recently, she crafted the dial of the Philippe Dufour Simplicity sold to the benefit of the Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation, along with 11 other timepieces, at Phillips during "The Geneva Watch Auction: XXI". It was lot 129.
Butterfly wings consist of two thin layers of chitinous membrane, reinforced by a network of longitudinal and cross-veins. The green iridescent areas are scales that remain attached to fragments of the original membrane. It is these scales, aligned in microscopic layers, that cause the surface to shimmer and shift in colour depending on the viewing angle, a phenomenon known as structural coloration. Following this, gold leaf and natural pigments are added to fill voids and enhance the composition.
Best, Emmanuel
A/ Philippe Dufour Simplicity "Butterfly"
Case: 37 mm in rose gold
credit: @watchesbylogan (1-2), revolution (3-11) & phillips (12-14)
B/ ArtyA models with butterfly wing marquetry crafted by Dominique Arpa-Cirpka
1/ Precious Butterfly 1
2/ Precious Butterfly 2
18k gold case, caliber ArtyA A01 COSC
3/ Precious Butterfly 3
4/ Precious Butterfly IV
5/ Delicacy Tourbillon
6/ Dark Butterfly
7/ Farfalla 619
C/ Dominique Arpa-Cirpka
credit: ArtyA
Farfalla 619
Butterfly Wing Marquetry
Dominique Arpa-Cirpka , an artist based in Collonge-Bellerive near Geneva, pioneered the use of butterfly wing marquetry in 2009 and has since created dials featuring actual butterfly wing fragments that are pieced together for ArtyA , the brand founded b...
Thank you for posting this!
Initially I thought the dial was unattractive but after having read the work that has gone into it, I think this watch has sold at a relatively bargain price.
I wasn't aware of this rare handcraft
before this Dufour watch was reviewed before the auction. But I find it quite remarkable and I find Dominique Arpa-Cirpka to a talented artist. Thanks for looking. Best, Emmanuel
Yes, Dominique Arpa-Cirpka is really a talented artist.
I wasn't aware of her nor of this rare handcraft before this auction, but I'm glad of the discovery. Best, Emmanuel
This is sublime
I wish I have the money to bid for it, and the final hammer price was quite reasonable for an unique piece like this one, in my view. This is such a gem.
"Quite reasonable" compared to the prices
the market has got us used too. But very high nonetheless, I would say (it isn't a minute repeater, for example). Anyway, a true little gem, yes. And I find the other dial made by this artist really beautiful too. Best, Emmanuel
The movement of the Simplicity is very nice, no doubt about that!
But I'm glad you like the dials too. Best, Emmanuel