Skip to main content

Construction: C.63-2007

An image of Construction

Terms of use

These images are provided for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND). To license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who will discuss fees, terms and waivers.

Download this image

Creative commons explained - what it means, how you can use our's and other people's content.

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Calligrapher: Brown, Denis
Author: Byron, Catherine

Entities

Categories

Description

Layers of rectangular pieces of glass, each engraved with a diamond-tipped burr. Three-dimensional layered construction, engraved on both sides of the pieces of glass with the poem, Liadain and Cuirithir by Catherine Byron, in a triangular formation surrounding a black-edged purple triangle (wood?) covered with black and gold calligraphy, with over it a black truncated triangle with gold calligraphy.The glass is encased in a rectangular wooden frame stained very dark brown.

Legal notes

Given by Sue Cavendish

Place(s) associated

  • Dublin ⪼ Ireland

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2007-11-19) by Cavendish, Sue

Dating

20th Century, Late#
Production date: AD 1998 : dated

Components of the work

Frame composed of wood stain ( dark brown) wood Depth 6.1 cm Height 30 cm Width 21.6 cm
Form composed of glass ( sheets, probably six)
Calligraphy

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: cream paper A 4 sheet, the left column is printed in italics; there are spaces between the 'verses' of the poem

  • Text: This work features a poem by Catherine Byron, written after she had seen an earlier glass piece by Denis Brown. It is part of a continuing collaboration between the two artists. The complete text is reproduced here.’ New paragraph. ‘Note: The ninth century Irish text Liadain and Cuirithir tells of the love of Liadain, a poet from Munster, and Cuirithir, a poet from Connaught.’ Right column: Liadain and Cuirithir/I/It is/falling slowly/through glass/feeling each chill/mineral slide/slice in/ keeping the cut/edges close/ no blood/It is the last/gasp, the clamping on ivory shucks/of air / It is/drawing the tackle tight/on the flung seine/of breathing / II / For us there are only words:/script on a scrap, or the sound/of the other listening,the voice and the ear in antiphon./ Or shall it be touch, that lichens/each of us over in gold?’/Poem, copyright 1997 Catherine Byron/Art, copyright 1998 Denis Brown’. At bottom right, in pencil ‘CALLIGRAPHY/BROWN/2’
  • Location: On the back
  • Method of creation: Printed in black in two columns with ink and pencil addition
  • Type: Label
  • Text: Denis Brown
  • Location: At top of cream label
  • Method of creation: Hand-written in black
  • Type: Signature

Inscription present: followed by a flourish

  • Text: Denis Brown 98
  • Location: At bottom left of cream label
  • Method of creation: Hand-written in black
  • Type: Signature

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.63-2007
Primary reference Number: 165562
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 15 July 2020 Last processed: Thursday 7 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Construction" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/165562 Accessed: 2024-11-25 07:05:13

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/165562 |title=Construction |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-25 07:05:13|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-165562

Bootstrap HTML code for reuse

To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:

<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/msspb/msspb5/CAL_63_2007_.jpg"
        alt="Construction"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Construction</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>
    

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...