Handmade mechanical dragonfly

Etsy seller JesseDanger's $15,000 "Anax Imperator Machina" is a hand-made, precision clockwork dragonfly whose wings flap -- made from gold and silver.

Modeled after the largest modern species of dragonfly, this is a functioning creation whose wings flutter up and down when the very tip of the tail (really the abdomen, but tail sounds cooler) is turned. The inspiration for this complex mechanical insect originated from many of the fantasized gadgets of Leonardo da Vinci and other mechanical creations once thought futuristic in times long before our own. Inspired by these designs I set out to recreate nature using classical engineering and an elegant form. My intentions are to develop and continue making more of these mechanical insects.
The internal mechanisms, gears and moving parts were painstakingly hand-milled and hand-calibrated with absolute precision from 14k gold. The body, mechanical frame and wings were handcrafted from Argentium Silver, far superior to Sterling or fine silver. The body opens up to reveal the intricate inner movements, and fine details that just could not be left forever covered up! The eyes are each large 10 carat Swiss Blue Topaz cabochons and the 14k gold bezel on the tail contains a 4mm Amethyst bullet shaped cabochon.

Link

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

MORE: Art and Design • Gadgets • maker

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Clay

That little guy looks like he’s ready to report your mumblings about Dust to the Magisterium.
forgeweld

For around $40, you can get an RC flying one, with eyes that light up! I have a couple of them and they are hilariously fun.

http://www.flytechonline.com/dragonfly_index.html
artistVictoriaC

#7 (forgeweld) Yay! I want one.
ill lich

#4

YES, first thing I thought too.

. . . what nerds we are.
Jeff

Very handsome; I love dragon flys. I think I’d like to see the eyes have more glitter, though, more life. A cabochon can be nice, but a cut stone might better mimic a compound eye.
PosthumanPicaresque

Actually, that would be a damselfly, since its eyes are separated and not flush to the head.
Beryllium

But … does it fly?
oasisob1

“…the tail contains a 4mm Amethyst bullet shaped cabochon.”

Abdomen, you mean.
email2postal

I think 15k is not a bad price for this – it will definitely appreciate given the amount of hand work. DARPA will probably buy it and then cast its carbon fiber mechanism using the gold one as a pattern….
efergus3

#2 Sorry, only the NSA/CIA version does.
IshMEL

Danny Dunn wants his ISIT back.
doplgangr

why on earth do people insist on putting their e-ticket items on etsy?