Enchanting Microscope Specimen No. 1: Exhibition Specimen Made from "Butterfly Scales" and "Diatoms"

Vintage Microscope Slides

Four specimen slides are stored in a paper case.
(See image 1)

Exhibition Slide (See image 2)
The slide reads VASE OF FLOWERS and 700 FORMS. These are small pictures, about 7mm in diameter, made from butterfly scales and diatoms. Created by K.D. KEMP in July 2001. Photographed with a macro microscope (Wild M420). The scales shimmer and sparkle with changes in lighting direction.

Specimen No. 1 (See images 3 & 4)
Title: [ASIUK]
This slide was created in tribute to Antique Scientific Instruments U.K.
Made from 23 butterfly scales and 1 diatom.
By K.D. KEMP

Specimen No. 2 (See images 5 & 6)
Title: [Arrangement of Butterfly Scales in the Shape of Birds and Butterflies]
Made from approximately 80 butterfly scales and 17 diatoms.

Specimen No. 3 (See images 7 & 8)
Title: [Bouquet]
Made from approximately 100 butterfly scales and diatoms.
By K.D. KEMP

Specimen No. 4 (See images 9-17)
Title: [Flowers in a Vase]
Made from 700 butterfly scales and diatoms.
Created by K.D. KEMP in July 2001.

Specimen No. 4
There is a crack on the slide glass (indicated by the yellow arrow in image 20).
It has now been repaired with glass repair fluid.

[K.D. KEMP's exhibition slides featuring a bouquet design using 100 scales and diatoms are priced at ¥63,000.
Specimen No. 4 was sold at auction in December 2004 for US$1,621.88. This exhibition slide using 700 scales and diatoms is the highest number I have ever seen. It is unlikely that KEMP will create specimens with this many scales again. Unfortunately, it is partially cracked (see image 20, yellow arrow). This does not affect observation.
For the past 10 years or so, exhibition slides using butterfly scales and diatoms have completely disappeared from the market. This is an extremely rare item.]