Belt Buckle “Small Butterfly”

A compact sculptural butterfly buckle hand-cut from 3 mm brass

This compact sculptural buckle was shaped from a single sheet of 3‑millimeter brass, cut entirely by hand and refined through a sequence of filing, sanding and silver‑soldering. Its small scale required a different discipline than larger works – every curve, edge and junction had to be resolved with precision, as even minor deviations would disrupt the balance of the butterfly’s form.

The striped flint fragments used for the wings were selected specifically for this scale. Their patterns had to align with the compact geometry of the buckle, creating a subtle mirrored effect without overwhelming the metal structure. Achieving this required a long process of comparing individual stones, adjusting proportions and refining the setting to maintain clarity in such a small format.

The gilded surface introduces a warm, reflective plane that stabilizes the composition. In contrast, the stone’s layered structure adds depth and texture, giving the butterfly a quiet presence despite its size. The piece is not an accessory in the conventional sense – it is a small sculptural object that happens to function as a buckle.

Shaped entirely in the Kostylo Warsaw atelier, the work belongs to a series in which familiar utilitarian formats are reinterpreted as compact sculptural studies. The “Small Butterfly” focuses on density, proportion and the discipline of working at a reduced scale, where every gesture of the hand becomes visible in the final form.

See how we hand-crafted these luxurious little golden butterfly for the buckle at our Kostylo atelier.