RARE VINTAGE MORPHO BUTTERFLY TRAY HANDMADE BY A DEVIL'S ISLAND PRISONER 1940's

Antiques of London

What makes this piece truly special is its unique backstory. According to the attached note, this tray was handmade by a prisoner on Devil's Island , a notorious penal colony off the coast of French Guiana. It was brought back in the 1940s by a seafaring relative, the note on the back says:

"This tray was made by a prisoner on Devil's Island, brought home by Nevine Needham's cousin sometime in the 1940s. At that time, he was a Second Officer in the Merchant Navy, and when ships were calling at Argentina, they had to dock at Devil's Island because the water was too shallow on the mainland at that point."

Butterfly wing crafts like this were often sold or bartered by prisoners and local artisans to passing sailors. This exceptional piece is not only a beautiful vintage butterfly wing tray , but also a poignant relic of maritime history.

We are committed to preserving both nature and history. This vintage butterfly wing tray features genuine Morpho butterfly wings that were ethically and sustainably sourced . In traditional butterfly wing art, wings are collected only after the butterflies have naturally completed their life cycle. No living butterflies were harmed for this piece.

By purchasing this unique tray, you are giving a second life to vintage craftsmanship that celebrates the natural beauty of tropical butterflies without impacting modern butterfly populations. This tray is a wonderful example of upcycled art, supporting the idea of reuse, responsible collecting, and mindful conservation .

We believe in protecting the environment, supporting sustainable practices, and offering our customers the peace of mind that comes with owning an authentic, ethically made piece of history.

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Please carefully examine the pictures to see the condition before purchasing, as they form part of the description. If you have any questions, please message us.

Measurements

Height - 21 cm

Width - 36 cm

Depth - 2 cm

Please note all measurements are taken to the widest point of the item. Please don't hesitate to ask us if you need any other measures.

Condition report

We always try to picture our items as well as possible to show you any imperfections or damages, if there are any.

The pictures play a big part in the description, so please view them carefully before purchasing.

Delivery pricing on the listing

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Deliveries & Collections

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Alternatively, you can arrange the delivery yourself, or if you would like to collect, you can collect from our warehouse in Pulborough RH20 1DF.

Worldwide Shipping

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Delivery can take 2-4 weeks within Europe and Air freight for countries outside of the EU; on some rare occasions, it can take slightly longer.

Sea freight delivery can take anywhere between 6-12 weeks.

Caring for your items

Vintage period and original items, such as leather seating, will always have a natural patina in the form of cracking, creasing and wear.

We recommend regular waxing to ensure no moisture is lost and to keep out of sunlight.

For Hand-Dyed leather items, we don't recommend placing them in direct sunlight for prolonged periods, as they will dry out and fade.

For wood, we recommend regular, thorough cleaning and waxing also.