When the days are doubly hot and still
And time seems set to stop,
When folks jump in the sea to chill
Or by their ACs flop,
There can be no better diversions,
Or more refreshing immersions
than comparing like and like versions.


Stout in form and drab of hue
The shy moth takes wing
Only in welkin darkest blue.
Its cousin, by contrast, the butterfly,
So graceful and splendid,
Flutters about the sky
Amid blooms both wild and well-tended.

Left: Parnassius Apollo, 2007, by Jo Whaley, offered by Photo-Eye Gallery. Right: Sori Yanagi Butterfly stool, ca. 1954, offered by Almond Hartzog Gallery

Left: Cithaerias Splendens (Sonoran Regal Moth), 2008, by Linda Broadfoot, offered by Sears-Peyton Gallery. Right: Michael Powolny lidded jar, 1910s, offered by Kunsthandel Kolhammer

Left: Emile Diffloth vase, ca. 1910, offered by Jason Jacques Gallery. Right: Pedro Friedeberg Butterfly chair, 20th century, offered by Galerie XX

Left: Late-Victorian diamond, emerald and aquamarine brooch, offered by DK Bressler & Co. Inc. Right: Carreras frosted glass enamel and yellow gold panel bracelet, ca. 1905, offered by Hancocks

Left: Pair of bronze candlesticks with carved stone moths, ca. 1870s, offered by Embree & Lake Antiques Inc. Right: Gold-and-coral butterfly brooch, 1890s, offered by Bentley & Skinner

Left: Art Deco platinum-and-diamond moth brooch, ca. 1930s, offered by Macklowe Gallery. Right: Muhammad Ali & Bundini Brown, Fifth Street Gym, Miami, FL, 1971, by Brian Hamill, offered by Morrison Hotel Gallery


A true bug, to be precise
Employs its mouth like a device
For piercing and sucking.
An insect, let it suffice,
Is also a bug,
Just slightly less disgusting.

Left: Wicker Bug arm chair, 1950, offered by COOCOU27. Right: Winslow health and hygiene medical chart, 1929, offered by Get Back Inc

Left: Victorian rock crystal bug pendant, ca. 1880, offered by A. Brandt + Son. Right: Late-Victorian pietra dura pendant, ca. 1880, offered by Past Era Antique Jewelry

Left: Bugs in lucite casing, 21st century, offered by Antony Todd. Right: Insect III, 2003, by Robert Andrew Parker, offered by Davis and Langdale Company, Inc

Left: Gold-and-guilloche enamel ladybug watch, ca. 1800s, offered by Matthew Bain Inc. Right: Set of 12 insects, ca. 1860, offered by Shapero Modern

Left: Bugs, by Manzur Kargar, offered by Isabella Garrucho Fine Art. Right: Insects in a Mound, 2014, by Augustina Droze, offered by the Benjamin Gallery

Left: François Fleuret Art Nouveau plique-à-jour diamond-and-gold brooch, ca. 1900, offered by Macklowe Gallery. Right: Jean Leclerc Art Nouveau vases, ca. 1900, offered by Colletti Gallery

Left: Das Bug, 2015, by Jan Huling, offered by Duane Reed Gallery. Right: Pair of English majolica cachepots, 1880s, offered by Grace David Antiques

Left: Austrian silver-and-enamel vesta case, ca. 1910, offered by AC Silver. Right: Cazzaniga gold, emerald, sapphire, ruby and diamond brooch, ca. 1960s, offered by Lawrence Jeffrey Estate Jewelers

Left: Computer Bug, 2007, by Thomas Herbrich, offered by PDNB Gallery. Right: Insect Screen, Titanic Resort Antalya, Turkey, 2006, by Reiner Riedler, offered by Sous Les Etoiles Gallery


Komodos notwithstanding,
Lizards are just not as commanding
As their fire-breathing brethren.
Dragons fear no men,
Except for Saint George.
And all claim one Mom:
Daenerys “Khaleesi” Targaryen

Left: Lizard, 1719, by Maria Sybilla Merian, offered by the Antiquarium. Right: Wilhelm Kâge stoneware dragon figurine, 1940s, offered by Madero Collectors Room

Left: Valentino Garavani clutch bag, late 21st century, offered by Coach House Antiques Inc. Right: Art Nouveau gold-and-diamond cufflinks, 1895–1915, offered by Shreve, Crump & Low

Left: Primavera Art Deco vase, 1940s, offered by art1. Right: Art Nouveau amphora vase, 1900, offered by James Infante

Left: Terracotta bust of Pallas Athena, late 19th century, offered by Piet Jonker Architectural Antiques. Right: Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent silk bustier, Fall 2004, offered by Evolution

Left: Demantoid, garnet, diamond and gold lizard brooch, late 19th century, offered by Chas Schwartz & Son. Right: Chinese snuff bottle, ca. 1850s, offered by Belgravia Lane

Left: (Lizard with Volcano), 1984–85, by David Zeldis, offered by Hirschl & Adler Modern. Right: Dragon head wood beam, ca. 1880, offered by Artfour

Left: Lacques Duval Brasseur lizard coffee table, ca. 1970, offered by Serge Castella Interiors. Right: Gold-and-quartz scent bottle, 19th century, offered by FD

Left: Jugendstil horn penholder, ca. 1910, offered by Animal Fine Arts. Right: Sterling silver jardinière, 1906, offered by AC Silver

Left: Golconda teak, ruby and diamond salamander ring, 2014, offered by Kanners. Right: Chinese rug, early 20th century, offered by Nazmiyal

Left: Manuel Mafra palissy-style ceramic ewer, 1865–1887, offered by Mayfair Gallery. Right: Cristopher Dresser twin handled vase, ca. 1875, offered by Xupes Limited


Long have fine young ladies mused
How prince from frog can be unfused.
To tell the difference is not easy,
Indeed the alike-ness can make one queasy.
Both may be large of eye, smooth of skin,
Water-loving and with cold-blooded kin.
Still, the rules of separation have never wavered.
A kiss is the sorcery that must be bravered
To liberate a Mr. Darcy from amphibian.

Left: Sampson Mordan & Co. sterling silver pepper shakers, 1881, offered by AC Silver. Right: Polo Prince, 1985, by Slim Aarons, offered International Fine Arts Consortium

Left: Marchak Paris pâte de verre brooch, 1990, offered by Hamilton Jewelers. Right: Delft charger depicting marriage of Prince William V, ca. 1775, offered by Bardith

Left: Victorian gold-and-diamond frog brooch, ca. 1880, offered by Bentley & Skinner. Right: Portrait of Prince Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, 1750, offered by Tarquin Bilgen Antiques

Left: Majolica coffee cup, 1800, offered by rare object. Right: Russian imperial presentation pocket watch, ca. 1840, offered by Romanov Russia

Left: Judith Leiber green crystal minaudière, 21st century, offered by A Second Chance Couture. Right: Bronze bust of Don Quixote by Prince Monyo, 1970s, offered by Showplace Antique + Design Center

Left: Frog in a Pond, by Oberto Gili, offered by Nathan Turner. Right: Jolly Club, Gabriele D’Annunzio, 1982, by Slim Aarons, offered by International Fine Arts Consortium


It must be known, if you please,
There’s little in common betwixt birds and bees,
Except, that is, for wings and eggs.
Queen bees ordain, no one reneges,
For drones it’s all doing and dying.
Though birds nest together, we will not lie,
there’s occasional two-timing.

Left: Interdependent (Cozy Birds II), by Hung Liu, offered by Diehl Gallery. Right: Christian Dior ring with onyx roses and gold-and-diamond bee, 21st century, offered by Robin Katz

Left: Edward Fields wool rug designed by Burt Groedel, 1977, offered by a La MOD. Right: Emilia Castillo bee hive teapot, 1990s, offered by Carol Master Antiques

Left: Buccellati gold, diamond and emerald bird brooch, 1960s, offered by J.S. Fearnley. Right: Gianni Versace gentleman’s Napoleonic waistcoat, 1990s, offered by Vintage Fashion Inc

Left: Louis Feraud Parrot frames, 1980s, offered by Basha Gold. Right: Chris Ferebee Hive modular shelf, 2002, offered by birdie

Left: Daum Nancy vase, 1930s, offered by Galerie Plaisance. Right: When Bees Do It maquette, 1971, by Tony Smith, offered by Gary Rubinstein Antiques

Left: Harry Bertoia Bird chair and ottoman, 1970s, offered by Marie Battaglini. Right: Bees, 2012, by Ellen von Unwerth, offered by Staley-Wise Gallery

Left: G.H. Laurent Art Deco bronze bookends, ca. 1930, offered by Kelly Gallery. Right: Line Vautrin L’Abeille Hybride brooch, ca. 1946, offered by Maison Gerard

Left: Rococo mirror with Ho-Ho- birds, ca. 1755, offered by Clinton Howell Antiques. Right: David Hicks for Louis De Poortere rug, 1970, offered by Galerie Alainko

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