Mid Century Brazilian Butterfly Wing Inlay Marquetry Serving Tray Appraisal

Mid-Century Brazilian Butterfly Wing Inlay Marquetry Serving Tray

This is a rectangular serving tray featuring an elaborate composition of real butterfly wings preserved under glass. The central focus is a large iridescent Blue Morpho butterfly, surrounded by artistically arranged yellow, orange, and brown wing fragments that form floral and geometric patterns against a textured yellow background. The construction includes a wooden frame with a decorative 'piano key' or geometric marquetry inlay edge, characteristic of Brazilian tourist-ware from the mid-20th century (circa 1940s-1960s). The tray appears to be made from South American hardwoods, possibly mahogany or imbuia. Regarding condition, the iridescent blue wings show signs of slight fading or desiccation, which is common with organic specimens of this age. There are minor scuffs and age-related wear on the wooden frame, including small nicks at the corners. The glass surface appears intact with no significant cracking, though there may be minor surface scratches. These trays were high-quality handcrafted souvenirs popular in Rio de Janeiro, often featuring thousands of individual wing scales applied by hand to create the intricate floral motifs surrounding the central specimen.