Finishing a stainless butterfly

[Perry Owens]

A family friend tragically lost her son aged 39 - he died on the train home from work of a massive heart attack.At the funeral, just before Christmas last year, a butterfly was seen flying around the church and this has become a bit of a symbol of him for her.
She is making a memorial flower bed in the garden and wants me to make a large metal butterfly for it. She doesn't want it painted but wants it to reflect the sunlight as much as possible. I can make, it no problem, but, with a wing span of 60cm it might look a bit bland if just polished so I am looking for an alternative finish. My best idea so far is to make the wings in brushed stainless and then polish those areas that would be brightly coloured on a real butterfly, leaving the dark veining and edges as brushed. Any better suggestions most welcome.
Perry

 

[arthur]

How about blueing it like this..

 

[Perry Owens]

Wow!
I've blued a lot of gun barrels but never a butterfly. Is that flame colouring? Thought I read somewhere that it's not very permanent but I'm probably mistaken. I have a propane torch and might try my hand on some scrap sheet - my efforts always generate plenty of scrap.
Perry

 

[arthur]

I'd take a guess and say maybe that was a grinding pad and or gas, from the blueing I've seen on SS exhausts I'd say it lasts well, but not sure how it would fair on art work left outside, however the effect is amazing when shown like these fine metal art items found on Google.

 

[eSCHEn]

That effect is absolutely gorgeous. Straight onto the "things I must try" list.

 

[oddbob]

I managed to 'blue' one of my wife's best stainless steel pans without even trying ...strangely, she wasn't too impressed with the result!