Powder Box c. 1936

This technical drawing shows the design for a Powder Box by Vera Van Voris. Note how the cube-like shape in this Powder Box can be traced back to ancient reliquaries. Boxes, from the practical to the ornate, transcend mere utility. They serve as vessels for our memories, dreams, and desires, similar to how the cube symbolizes stability. Think of how the perfect cube represents the Philosopher's Stone, a symbol of alchemical transformation and spiritual completion. The container, then, becomes a potent symbol of containing potential, a microcosm. These boxes also echo the protective aspect of tombs or sarcophagi. Much like how an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus was meant to safeguard the body for the afterlife, a Powder Box might be seen as preserving the beauty or essence of the user. This Powder Box transcends its practical function, tapping into the deep-seated human desire to preserve and protect, linking the user to a timeless tradition of containment and transformation.