Overlijden van Koningin Marie-Henriette van België 1902 1902

This small bronze round, made by J. Jourdain, commemorates the death of Queen Marie-Henriette of Belgium in 1902. It's like holding a tiny world of grief right in your hand. Look closely, and you can see how the artist worked the metal, pushing and pulling the surface to create these images. On one side, the Queen's profile is sharp and clear, while on the other, a draped figure leans against a tomb. The texture is everything here. The folds of the fabric, the smooth curve of her cheek – they all catch the light in different ways, making the scene feel so alive, even in its stillness. The colour of the bronze gives it a feeling of warmth and age, like a memory burnished by time. It reminds me of those Pre-Raphaelite paintings, all drama and emotion, but distilled into this small, potent form. It's a conversation across time, about love and loss.