Foedraal van leer 1913 - 1914

Editor: This is "Foedraal van leer," a leather case made around 1913-1914 by Chris van der Hoef, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. It looks like it has some serious age, judging by the wear on the leather. I'm curious, what does this unassuming object say to you? Curator: It's tempting to dismiss this as merely utilitarian, but let's consider its materiality. Leather, in this era, signifies both luxury and durability. How was this leather sourced, tanned? The labor involved, the tanning processes, likely reeked. We also need to ask, for what purpose was this made? What sort of object of status, of desire, would necessitate such careful encasement? Editor: That’s a great point – the wear and tear tells a story about its use and the value of what it contained. The fact that it has survived this long gives us a great idea of this value, of course. It makes me think of craftsmanship versus mass production. Curator: Exactly! Van der Hoef’s choice of material is not just about aesthetics but speaks to broader social and economic structures. Is this an attempt to elevate craft, to challenge the dominance of industrialized goods? It exists as both a commodity in its own right and as protector of another commodity, raising questions about the hierarchy of value in that era. Editor: I see what you mean. I hadn't considered its place in that shifting landscape of handmade versus manufactured items. What strikes me is the quality of leather, itself, for its day. It may have stood apart from leather goods which may have been quickly produced for less money. Curator: And we have to ask ourselves, by focusing on the material and the mode of production, do we also neglect other potentially valuable interpretations of this Foedraal van leer? Does our preoccupation with the physical risk obscuring other forms of value—its historical context or its narrative potential, perhaps? Editor: It's definitely given me a fresh perspective on appreciating even everyday objects, especially considering the craftmanship, its intended role in a larger economic picture, and the kind of object the case was likely designed for. Thank you. Curator: It has me pondering the interplay of artistic intention and the socio-economic conditions that shaped it; material considerations can be a powerful lens to investigate our culture and values.