Silver earrings, hand-painted in oil on Mother of Pearl cabochon, red garnet eyes. Varnished with resin to protect miniature painting from damage and water. Size of the silver fly- 15mm, size of the cabochon- 18x14mm.
Author of a painting- Anita Arbidane.
 
Fly motive is the one that has been used over and over in art and jewelry since the ancient times. In Egypt, as long as 3500 BC ago flies represented courage and tenacity, protected bearer against misfortune and disease. Romans used the fly to show divine presence. In Victorian jewelry insects were nature's go-betweens entrusted with often romantic message. In modern culture fly is associated with Surrealist movement where it was the symbol of psychoanalysis - a recording witness of mind flow. In our Postmodernist era the motive is making it's come back as the symbol of mindfulness or being present in the moment, combining reactive buzzing intelligence with quiet and observant presence. It is also believed, that image of the fly serves an amulet function against the evil eye.