Brooch designed by A.W.N. Pugin 1848 enameled gold, garnets, turquoises, pearls, ruby Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Though God forbid that I propose to you
you're anywhere but right here – halfway through
this dark tale of the author's final fight
for the perpetually vacant belt of light
in the high ring of the sunscorched upper ether –
that young man's sport – before he falls, unfeathered
and half-blind back to middle earth to stand
alone in the assuaging shadowlands
and seek the means by which he might appraise
that lenient and sweetening compromise
between the vision and his earthly term,
the happy marriage of the rose and worm.
– from A Talking Book, published in Landing Light by Don Paterson (Graywolf Press, 2005)
Brooch designed by Edward Burne-Jones ca. 1890 green-stained ivory and citrine set in gold Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Brooch designed by Edward Burne-Jones ca. 1890 amethyst set in gold and silver Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Pendant designed by Carlo Giuliano onyx cameo by Georges Bissinger ca. 1865 enameled gold, rubies, sapphires, pearls Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Memorial-pendant for Princess Charlotte designed by Charlotte Jones 1817 miniature portrait and locks of human hair set in gold with rock crystal and diamonds Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Pendant designed by Mrs. Philip Newman ca. 1890 enameled gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, half-pearls Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Brooch designed by Marret frères et Jarry ca. 1875 enameled gold, emeralds, diamonds Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Brooch designed by François-Désiré Froment-Meurice ca. 1844 enameled silver Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Brooch designed by Jacob Ulrik Tostrup 1867 silver filagree Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Pendant designed by Reinhold Vasters ca. 1860-80 enameled-gold, rubies, emeralds, pearl Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Brooch designed by René-Jules Lalique ca. 1895 gold, platinum, diamonds Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Pendant designed by Paul Ydot ca. 1870 silver-gilt with enamels and pastes Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Brooch designed by Ludwig Politzer ca. 1890 gold, silver, diamonds, painted rock-crystal Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
Brooch designed by William Burges ca. 1864 silver-gilt, turquoises, garnet Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
I am grateful to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for the excellent images.