What kind of specimen box will make insects look attractive? There are many highly functional specimen boxes, such as German-style boxes that are airtight and excellent for preserving insects, and paper boxes that are durable, lightweight, and easy to carry. However, it is difficult to find a "well-designed specimen box" that can beautifully display insects and be enjoyed as interior décor.
So I decided to create something original, and consulted with insect-loving graphic designer Taku Sato.
"I think the most attractive thing about insects is their shape. With their cool overall body shapes and intricate leg and wing structures, insects are a model for product design. It's fascinating just to look at the joints. For example, what if you took an insect's body apart and created a 'dissected specimen' that you could display like an anatomical diagram?"
To bring this fresh and unique idea to fruition, they decided to ask for the cooperation of a professional specimen creator. They contacted insect specimen artist Takataka Fukui, a master who was also involved in the creation of specimens for the "Insect Exhibition - Model for Design" that Sato planned in 2019.
The specimen prepared by Fukui is a dung beetle, which is what Sato is most interested in at the moment. When Sato saw the disassembled part, which included the head, thorax, abdomen, antennae, front legs, middle legs, and back legs, he had an idea: it's circular!
"It suits the round shape of the dung beetles well, and since it's easy to find the center of a circle, it's easy to arrange the insects. I've never seen a circular specimen box before, but I'm sure Fukui-san will be able to come up with a layout that suits his creative ideas."
The result is a set of three circular specimen boxes in large, medium and small sizes. They are made from moisture-resistant paulownia laminated wood and are handcrafted by woodworking artisans. The glass lid is removable so that insects can be easily replaced. The small wooden pin that fastens the lid to the main body is a nice accent.
Left: Small size, diameter 14cm, Right: Medium size, diameter 21cm. The specimen is an Egyptian scarab beetle (body length 30mm). On the right is the disassembled right part of one beetle. 
Left: Small size. Right: Medium size specimen of the green glossy scarab beetle (body length 25mm).
Fukui, who immediately began arranging the specimens, said, "I arranged the disassembled specimens in the medium-sized specimens with a diameter of 21 cm, and in the small specimens with a diameter of 14 cm, I put just one specimen whose original shape is visible. The circular shape makes it look cool even when displayed alone. I find it appealing that the arrangement with the extra space creates such a clear effect."
The large size, 34cm in diameter, features a random assortment of large and small dung beetles. By leaving some space inside the frame, it looks like a framed art piece. It's a specimen box that you'll want to see, show, and display.
"The circle is a shape that makes people want to peer into it," says Sato, peering into the completed disassembled specimen. "It's incredibly exciting to be able to display it in my room and closely observe the differences in the shape of the legs and the way the joints are attached. It seems like I'll be able to discover a new charm in insects."
A collection of various dung beetles from around the world. Large, 34cm in diameter. The specimens are from Mr. Fukui's collection. 
A specimen of the giant scarab beetle (approximately 20mm in length). It is large, measuring 34cm in diameter. This is also from Fukui's collection.
Specimen produced by: Takataka Fukui
