Desk Box c. 1940

This desk box was made by Harry Eisman, who lived between 1855 and 1995. Though we don't know exactly when it was made, it invites us to consider the world Eisman inhabited. Consider the intricate carvings that adorn its surface. These are not just decorations; they reflect a deep connection to craft and tradition. The desk box speaks to the intersections of labor, identity, and cultural heritage. For whom was this box intended? What role might it have played in their daily life? Was it a repository for precious documents, or a symbol of status? Objects like this can tell us much about a particular time, and about the values and aspirations of the people who create and use them. Think about the hands that shaped this object, and the stories it holds within its wooden frame.