The Ornamented Being

Valar Morghulis.

ornamentedbeing:

Secret poison case disguised as a book, 17th century

I have no idea where it’s from but it’s pretty amazing.

6,965 notes … Seriously!!!!!

A modern take on an ancient idea.

But at a price.

“This magnificent poison ring features a large central topaz stone that can be unlocked with a key to reveal a tiny secret compartment. The whole ring is covered in decorative engravings, and on each of the fours claws holding the topaz there are tiny bezel set blue sapphires (we can alternate the sapphires for diamonds if you wish, just let us know in the notes to seller section). It has been entirely hand made (including the locking mechanisms). The dimensions of the locking box are approx 12mm wide x 12mm deep x 18mm from the top of the topaz to the bottom of the box. The key to open it is approx 23mm long, and comes on a 50cm chain to be worn around the neck.”

Secret poison case disguised as a book, 17th century

I have no idea where it’s from but it’s pretty amazing.

Mourning Cape

Abraham & Straus  (American)

The Met says: Victorian mourning traditions were complex and circumscribed. Full mourning, with its proscribed all-black clothing, lasted a year and a day, while second mourning, which followed, lasted six to nine months and allowed for some use of trim and small jewelry. Half-mourning lasted three to six months and allowed for more elaborate fabrics and jewelry. This cape is an example of a half-mourning evening garment. It was purchased at Abraham & Straus by Brooklyn resident Florence Madden Adriance (1878-1915), who was the grandmother of the donors.Founded in 1865 as Wechsler & Abraham by Abraham Abraham (1843-1911) and Joseph Wechsler (ca. 1837-n.d.), Abraham & Straus became the largest department in store in Brooklyn during the late 19th and early 20th centuri

Obviously this is not the first stage of mourning since it was taken in ca. 1873 (and you can tell by what she is wearing) and Albert died in 1861. I put this photo with this quote because it’s so clear!

” … As the afternoon wore on, he became delirious. At 5.30pm, the Royal Household gathered. By 9pm, a telegram was sent from Windsor to London announcing Albert’s condition was desperate.

In the King’s Room the Queen longed for some sign of recognition from her husband. She leant forward and in German, the language she had grown up speaking, whispered in Albert’s ear: ‘Es ist kleines Frauchen’ – It is your little wife – and asked for ‘ein Kuss’ – a kiss – but he could barely raise his head from the pillow. She retired to the anteroom, where she sank to the floor, her hair awry and her face buried in her hands. 

‘Why?’ she asked plaintively, ‘Why must I suffer this? It is like tearing the flesh from my bones,’ she sobbed. Within half an hour a rapid change had set in; Prince Albert was now bathed in sweat. The only sound in the King’s Room was the dying Prince’s struggle for breath.

Their daughter Princess Alice recognised it: ‘That is the death rattle,’ she whispered. Victoria had heard Albert’s heavy breathing from the next room. ‘I’m afraid this takes away all our hope,’ Alice told her.

Upon which, Victoria – as Alice later wrote – ‘started up like a Lioness rushed by every one, and bounded on the bed imploring him to speak and to give one kiss to his little wife’… . “

“Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no haste,
And I had put away
My labour, and my leisure too,
For his civility.

We passed the school where children played,
Their lessons scarcely done;
We passed the fields of gazing grain,
We passed the setting sun.

We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible,
The cornice but a mound.

Since then ‘tis centuries; but each
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses’ heads
Were toward eternity.”

You may be surprised that I didn’t go with the obvious choice of Victorian mourning. A grim man with an outreached hand to help the veiled lady into the carriage that would take her death. That is such a cliche and that’s not what I see in this poem at all.

When I read this I feel that she isn’t afraid.  I chose this photo because Death comes in all forms.  My interpretation is that she went with Death willingly. From her tone I don’t sense fear, rather it’s almost as if she were about embark upon a new adventure. So it makes sense to me that her guide would be an ordinary young man, like a quiet friend to greet her at the end.

What do you think?

Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

“Come not when I am Dead”

Come not, when I am dead
  to drop they foolish tears upon they grave
To trample round my fallen head
  and vex the unhappy dust thou wouldst not save.
There let the wind sweep and the plover cry;
  But thou, go by

Child, if it were thine error or thy crime
  I care no longer, being all unblest:
Wed whom thou will, but I am sick of Time,
   And I desire to rest
Pass on, weak heart, and leave me where I lie;
    Go by, go by.

Tintype, 1885-1895.

Edit: I don’t normally snark but I’m annoyed. So I’m going to snark. Obviously some people can’t read. Just incase you are another one of those people who have to reblog this photo and make a comment on giving proper credit even though it is obvious who owns/posted this photo due to the writing across the bottom let me save you the hassle. 

This photo is from Thanatos Archive.