How to define an image as a display-table entry

Question

Is there any way to create a custom image (e.g., using an xpm format) and use it in the display-table?

I see that XEmacs had a function called make-glyph -- e.g., (make-glyph '([xpm :file "~/something.xpm"] [string :data "[END]"])). However, regular Emacs doesn't have that function.

The function make-glyph-code requires a character (e.g., ?\U0001D4D5) -- and there is an optional face argument (e.g., 'font-lock-warning-face).

I would like to do something similar to:

(when (not buffer-display-table)
  (setq buffer-display-table (make-display-table)))

(aset buffer-display-table ?\014 form-feed)

(defvar form-feed `(image :type xpm :mask nil :ascent center :data
  "/* XPM */
  static char * form_feed_xpm[] = {
  \"11 20 5 1\",
  \" c None\",
  \". c purple\",
  \"+ c yellow\",
  \"@ c #7F0000\",
  \"% c yellow\",
  \"%%%%%%%%%%%\",
  \"%.........%\",
  \"%.........%\",
  \"%.........%\",
  \"%.........%\",
  \"%...++++++%\",
  \"%.++.++...%\",
  \"%+...+....%\",
  \"%+...+....%\",
  \"%+...+....%\",
  \"%+...++++.%\",
  \"%....+....%\",
  \"%...++....%\",
  \"%...+.....%\",
  \"%.++++....%\",
  \"%.........%\",
  \"%.........%\",
  \"%.........%\",
  \"%.........%\",
  \"%%%%%%%%%%%\"};"))

---

EDIT:  As a first impression, it seemed that the library gamegrid.el might have been using the concept outlined above. However, it turned out that gamegrid.el uses the buffer-display-table as a buffer-local storage facility for the xpm images, which are later used by the function gamegrid-set-face to add-text-properties using the 'display property. While it was a good excuse to play pong and tetris, it did not resolve this particular question.