Ovale hoedendoos, beplakt met papier met houtnerf imitatie; op het deksel een cartouche met in het midden het Nederlandse koningswapen c. 1910

Editor: This is an oval hat box, created around 1910 by A.F. Herbermann. It's made with mixed media, largely paper and assemblage techniques, with a wood-grain imitation. The royal Dutch coat-of-arms is pasted on top, and the box itself follows an Art Nouveau style. There’s a kind of quiet elegance to the materials despite being a bit faded. What draws your attention when you look at this piece? Curator: Immediately, the faux-bois finish strikes me. It’s a conscious act of simulation, an attempt to elevate a common material—paper—through imitation. This box appropriates the visual language of wood, a material traditionally associated with quality, stability and craft. What purpose does this strategy of mimicry serve, and what are the semiotic implications? Editor: I suppose it speaks to the aspiration for a certain status, using affordable material to give off the impression of wealth or quality? Curator: Precisely. And look at the royal coat-of-arms. Its presence adds another layer of meaning. By incorporating a symbol of authority, it further reinforces the aspirational qualities of the piece. The artist plays with signifiers of value—natural materials, noble connections, historical reference, through a highly synthetic construct. It makes one wonder about the object’s intended market, or consumer. How are these symbols composed and combined, and what message do they produce? Editor: It's a clever subversion of expectation. So, looking beyond just "pretty decoration", it becomes a commentary on consumerism and status? Curator: One could certainly make that argument. Its deliberate manipulation of materials and symbols compels us to question our assumptions about value and authenticity in art and commerce. Editor: I see now that focusing on material and structure is about more than just surface appearance - it really reveals the ideas the artist explores. Curator: Indeed. Considering all of this offers a way to view art as an instrument for expressing meaning that resonates with our cultural values.