Embroidery

木彫りの幼虫（ジャコウアゲハ）です。
素材はヒノキ(一部竹、レーヨン糸)、着彩はアクリル絵の具です。
サイズは約高さ7cm、横幅7㎝、奥行き6.8㎝

私は私の得たものでできている。
それは愛だったのだろうか、毒だったのだろうか。

ジャコウアゲハの幼虫は ウマノスズクサというハート型の葉の毒草を食べて育つのだけれど、吐き出す糸にまで毒成分が含まれるらしい。
彼らが成虫になると、食べたウマノスズクサの毒成分を纏っているために、外敵に狙われることがないから、穏やかにゆっくり飛び回ります。
誰にも害されることがないなら穏やかに生きていけるのだったら、羨ましいことです。
でも彼らは幼虫の頃、他の幼虫が育たないように、自分がウマノスズクサを十分食べ終わると、根際からウマノスズクサを齧り切って枯らしてしまうのだって。
外敵が無くたって、自分たちが敵になるのだなって気づかされます。

This is a woodcarving of a caterpillar (Atrophaneura alcinous).
The materials are cypress (with some bamboo and rayon thread), and it is painted with acrylics.
The size is approximately 7cm in height, 7cm in width, and 6.8cm in depth.

I am made of what I have gained.
Was it love, or was it poison?

Atrophaneura alcinous larvae grow by eating the heart-shaped leaves of a poisonous plant called Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia debilis), and it seems their silk even contains toxic components.
Once they become adults, they are shielded by the toxins of the Dutchman's pipe they consumed, so they are not targeted by predators and can fly calmly and slowly.
It would be enviable to be able to live peacefully if one could go unmolested by anyone.
However, when they are larvae, they reportedly gnaw the Dutchman's pipe down to the roots to wither it once they have finished eating their fill, so that other larvae cannot grow there.
It makes one realize that even without external enemies, they end up becoming enemies to their own kind.

ご購入時の注意点　Points to note when purchasing

お客様都合での返品交換は基本的に受け付けていません。
細かい傷や歪みなど、ハンドメイドならではの味わいを感じることもあるかもしれません。
デバイスや光源によっては色や雰囲気が異なって見えることもございます。
素材が木なので、吸湿と乾燥を繰り返すことで割れが発生する可能性があります。また、温度の高い場所に置くと木の内部の脂が溶けて表面に滲み出す場合がございます。なるべく湿度や温度の変化の少ない場所で保管することをお勧めします。特に直射日光が当たる場所やエアコンの吹き出し口付近での保管は木の劣化を早めるので避けて下さい。
購入後では応えられないご要望もございますので、ご不明点がございましたら、購入前にご質問をお願いいたします。

As a general rule, we do not accept returns or exchanges due to customer preference.
You may notice minor scratches or distortions, which are part of the unique charm of handmade items.
Colors and appearances may vary depending on your device and light source.
Since this is made of wood, repeated absorption and release of moisture may cause cracks to form. Also, if placed in a high-temperature area, resin from within the wood may melt and seep onto the surface. We recommend storing the item in a location with minimal fluctuations in humidity and temperature. In particular, please avoid storage in direct sunlight or near air conditioning vents, as these will accelerate the deterioration of the wood.
Some requests cannot be accommodated after purchase, so please ask any questions you may have before buying.