Case with tray and drawers (part of a set) by IBM, AL, etc.

Case with tray and drawers (part of a set) 1848 - 1849

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silver, metal, sculpture

silver

metal

sculpture

decorative-art

Dimensions a) 8 1/4 x 10 1/2 x 18 in. (21.0 x 26.7 x 45.7 cm); b) 3 3/16 x 9 x 12 3/8 in. (8.1 x 22.9 x 31.4 cm); c) 1 3/4 x 2 3/16 x 10 in. (4.4 x 5.6 x 25.4 cm); d) 2 7/8 x 2 3/16 x 5 3/8 in. (7.3 x 5.6 x 13.7 cm); e,f) 1 7/8 x 2 13/16 x 3 3/16 in. (4.8 x 7.1 x 8.1 cm); g) 5/8 x 9 7/8 x 12 1/4 in. (1.6 x 25.1 x 31.1 cm); h) 1 1/8 x 9 7/8 x 12 1/4 in. (2.9 x 25.1 x 31.1 cm); i) 2 5/8 x 2 7/16 x 9 7/8 in. (6.7 x 6.2 x 25.1 cm); j) 2 5/8 x 1 1/2 x 9 7/8 in. (6.7 x 3.8 x 25.1 cm); k) 1 7/8 x 4 3/16 x 6 7/8 in. (4.8 x 10.6 x 17.5 cm)

This is a case with tray and drawers that was created by IBM, AL, etc. We don't know exactly when. It's a utilitarian object, yet its presence in a museum asks us to consider its potential significance beyond mere function. What narratives can be unlocked from something like this? The cold, corporate identity of IBM stands in stark contrast to the intimate, almost domestic quality implied by the case and its drawers. It makes me think about the labor and the lives connected to IBM. What kind of labor went into the making of it, and what kind of labor did this case enable or facilitate? There's a quiet, understated quality to this piece. It offers a glimpse into the intersections of industry, identity, and the personal stories embedded within everyday objects.