The smallest portrait ever created of Queen Elizabeth II has gone under the hammer at auction.
Measuring just 20 millionths of a metre, the portrait is even less than the width of a human hair.
The portrait was made by scientists at the Oxford Instruments Asylum Research in celebration of Her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
The image was sold at a charity auction in Taiwan for £1,053.
The money is being donated to Taiwan Salvation Army’s Puli Youth Services Centre, SOS Children’s Village, and the British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei’s four-year scholarship programme.
Jonathan Bryon, President of East and South East Asia, Oxford Instruments, said: “We are delighted that the proceeds of the sale of this portrait, originally created to celebrate her Late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, will now be used to support such important causes in Taiwan. Our technology is always a force for good in the world – but this is a slight departure from our usual science-based approach to furthering global progress!”
The portrait was printed using Oxford Instruments’ Cypher ES atomic force microscope and a sophisticated scientific technique known as anodic oxidation lithography.
