Yellow Butterfly Necklace

Shirley loves creating gorgeous butterfly necklaces of all colors. Undoubtedly, for this line of Cloisonné necklaces, she wanted to create some that were lifelike and some that were fantastical. This yellow swallowtail butterfly necklace is one of the more realistic pieces she has created. (Her iconic Monarch Butterfly necklace is another of her realistic-looking pieces.) Keeping to the classic yellow and black design, the artist captured the essence of grace and hope that this butterfly represents. The tiny 22k wires in the Cloisonné technique highlight the gorgeous yellow tones of the enamel.

Yellow Butterfly Symbolism

Yellow butterflies in general, and the Yellow Swallowtail specifically can symbolize many positive things across a wide variety of cultures and religions. Their bright colors are usually associated with joy and happiness. They can foreshadow blessings and good fortune. Or, their warmth and positivity can inspire creativity.

A black and yellow butterfly often means that a positive change is coming soon. In some cultures, it’s the first butterfly seen in spring, meaning that warmer weather is on its way. Their larger presence and warm and sunny appearance mean that better days are coming. Because of this association with a positive change on the horizon, yellow swallowtail butterfly jewelry makes a great gift for someone going through a difficult time or hoping for a brighter future.

Yellow Swallowtails are the state butterfly of Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, and South Carolina. Therefore, these butterfly pendants make great gifts for anyone with a deep connection to those states.

The Artist’s Process

Shirley uses an ancient technique called ‘Cloisonné’ to create these unique pieces of jewelry. She first bends tiny 24k gold wire to create little partitions in the outline of the butterfly. She then fills those spaces with colorful enamel. For this piece, she uses mainly yellows and blacks, with highlights of blues and reds to make the butterfly more realistic. Once the colors are filled in, she fires the piece to give them their luminous glow. Finally, Shirley polishes and finishes the jewel to create this incredible and unique Yellow Swallowtail butterfly necklace.