ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the characteristic features of the primary relationship to the object tend to be transferred on to the self's relationship with the activity of symbolization and with the symbolic "acknowledgement" that could be expected of this. The "objects for symbolizing" will take over from what the object no longer provides, or at least will help to narrow the gap that is always opening up between "found" and "created". Part of the object's symbolizing function is to offer the infant the wherewithal to compensate sufficiently for the feeling of loss that is part of the relationship with the object. Once the symbolizing function has been transferred on to the symbolizing objects, the specific features of the way in which the object materializes its symbolizing function can be interpreted and analysed; they can be reconstructed in terms of the use of the object.
