Doos behorend bij hoge hoed van S.J.P. Kruger 1800 - 1900

This is a box belonging to the top hat of S.J.P. Kruger, made by Box en Co Ltd Cooper. Consider its cylindrical form, not merely as a container, but as a vessel echoing ancient motifs of containment and protection. From antiquity, cylindrical shapes have symbolized the womb, a space of nurturing and hidden potential. Think of the Egyptian canopic jars holding the organs of the deceased, or the reliquaries of saints, safeguarding sacred remnants. Here, the hat box encloses not the body, but an extension of the personage himself. The hat, a symbol of status and authority, finds its safe haven within these walls. What does it mean when this powerful symbol is encased? Does it denote an era of introspection or transition? It reflects our deep, subconscious impulse to both elevate and contain the symbols of our identity.