Figures and Flowers At some point in the life-history of rubbish it changes from trash to treasure. It passes through some lens and becomes a valued artefact. Is it scarcity? A distance from memory? Perhaps it is the reassurance that two hundred years from now future humans will look at our detritus with something other than the disgust with which we view it now. When all the plastic landfills have been mined for their hydrocarbon chains, someone will hold one half of an IKEA saucer and admire its broken Scandinavian patterns. That is what these objects are. They are in the river because someone didn’t want them enough. But being found, they have been brought back to life. I want them. More than anything I love having these around. I love to look at them. To admire their brush strokes, their depictions, their colours. I love the richness of their tones. I like to hold them, to feel their weight or their weightlessness in my hand, their sheens and lustres. Raspberry Prunt I once used a goblet with things like this attached to try to get contemporary art buyers interested in old European furniture. This is a raspberry prunt. Eight or ten of these would have been set onto the stem of a seventeenthcentury wine glass, or roemer. They were beautiful ornaments, but they also helped the greasy-fingered wealthy keep hold of their wine glasses before the adoption of forks at the dinner table. It is without doubt my favourite-ever find. It is jewel-like without being as gaudy as a gem; it is tactile beyond belief. To rub a thumb across its dimples is like caressing rosary beads or tasbih. It is talismanic. If it’s out of its cabinet I can’t take my hands off it. Full of contradictions. Incredible that so fragile a piece of glass should survive four hundred years of tides without being worn to a dull pebble. Clay Tobacco Pipes After 1840 | The horse’s hoof. Where it all started for me. After 1840 | The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, made to be ceremonially broken. 1850–1910 | The foliage holds the bowl with an incredible delicacy. 1850–1910 | Extremely sparse decoration, with almost invisible ‘eyelets’.
✔ Author(s): Ted Sandling,Iain Sinclair
✔ Title: London in Fragments: A Mudlark's Treasures
✔ Rating : 4.6 out of 5 base on (458 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 0711239290
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about London in Fragments by Ted Sandling
Miah English
Unravel the secrets of a small town with a dark past in this gripping thriller. The author's atmospheric writing and suspenseful plot make for a page-turner. Each character's hidden motives and secrets add to the tension. The twists and surprises keep you guessing until the very end. It's a chilling and captivating read that you won't want to put down. Perfect for fans of mystery and suspense.
Arabella Whitfield
Discover the hidden stories behind famous works of art in this fascinating book. The author's detailed research and engaging writing bring each piece to life. Each chapter uncovers new insights into the artists' lives and creative processes. The narrative is both informative and captivating, offering a new perspective on familiar artworks. It's a must-read for art lovers and history buffs alike. Perfect for those who appreciate the stories behind the art.
Carla Oliver
Uncover the secrets of a haunted mansion in this chilling gothic novel. The author's atmospheric writing and suspenseful plot make for a captivating read. Each character's hidden motives and dark pasts add to the tension. The twists and surprises keep you guessing until the very end. It's a haunting and immersive story that you won't want to put down. Perfect for fans of gothic fiction.
