2006.

Mixed media, 2 x 1.75 x 4.75 inches.

"Specimen" is, at first glance, an old, bejeweled magnify-ing glass of sorts. 

It is, however, an object constructed entirely out of several found objects that seren-dipitiously fit perfectly with the other components to create what appears to be a real antique scientific instrument (e.g. the wood handle, the metal magnifier, the cracked mirror, and the tarnished brass disk supporting the "insect" are all separate objects found over the course of several years).

The "specimen" of the title could refer to the golden insect but then again, a representation of an insect is not a real specimen, and therefore, it is purely ornamental.

On  closer inspect-ion, however, the viewer will notice that the back circle of the magnifier is not a a magnifier at all but rather, a cracked mirror that reflects the viewer's image into the piece.  This makes whoever is looking at the piece the real "specimen."