Stacking box 1700 - 1800

Here we have an anonymous stacking box which resides at the Rijksmuseum. In the absence of the artist’s name, we’re invited to consider the object itself. A stacking box such as this holds both practical and symbolic weight; it’s a container, yes, but what does it contain? This box might have held pigments or perhaps incense, goods of the past that remind us that it was not always so easy to move materials across the globe. As we consider the history of global trade, we must reflect on who had access to such goods and who was exploited to secure them. The delicate floral motifs offer a certain peace, set against a backdrop that whispers of untold stories and labor. Despite its unknown origins, this stacking box remains a potent reminder of art’s capacity to both reflect and shape the world around us.