Here is the latest ancient ruin from Clayton Fulkerson, whose Greek and Roman monuments graced this blog (“Ancient temples on parade“), and Cranston’s William Hall Free Library, last November. I dined with Clay this afternoon at the Chapel Grille, also in Cranston, and asked him whether he had started any new ancient temples. He replied that he had completed an incense burner inspired (he imagines) by the four ornamental pylons on the Alexander III Bridge, in Paris, among other things. His thinking reflects the tendrils and penumbra of memory that influence how a design arrives in the mind of a designer:

It’s an original design, but I find that almost everything is derivative.  A few weeks ago I found a pair of similar structures just off of Commonwealth Avenue in Boston.  In addition, I’m sure I was inspired by the Alexander III Bridge in Paris.  In short, it’s a common form, but the removable urn is mine, I think.

In addition to the photo at left, Clay sent a brief video of the monument in the process of smoking. To see the fumes curl forth into the air is almost to smell it. I was unable to slide it off his email and onto my desktop for plantation in this post. I will add it as soon as I can. [Update: The 29-second video is now posted beneath the bridge below.]

Pont d’Alexandre III, in Paris. (edaccessible.com)