"I stand here today humbled..."

The Imperial State Crown, (United Kingdom).

Lalique Eagle and seal.

Man Ray - Le TZmoin' Seat.

In an attempt to capture the mood of today's inauguration in Washington DC, and as a non-American, I thought the nearest equivalent was the coronation we have in the United Kingdom for our monarchs. Ours of course happen less frequently, but today's in the United States seems to have taken on a much larger significance than any in my memory.

The originality of my view has been slightly diluted by the same being discussed in today's Financial Times. But I shall forgive them.

In the same theme, I came across two auction items that I had bookmarked - a mascot eagle's head (4 1/2"), and a smaller seal (3 1/8"), both by Lalique, signifying the emblem of the republic, and a May Ray chair designed in 1971, emblematic of the eyes of the world on the proceedings at the Capitol. (Man Ray, or Emmanuel Radnitzky, was born in that city hugely significant with America's history, Philadelphia.)

So, a few symbols to commemorate this auspicious day.