Deksel van houten doosje c. 1590 - 1596

This is the lid of a small wooden box, created by an anonymous artist. Its modest size and unassuming material speaks volumes about the everyday lives of people throughout history. Consider for a moment, what this box might have held. Perhaps small, precious items, personal keepsakes, or medicinal herbs, things of great personal value, yet easily overlooked by history. In a world where so much of our understanding of the past is shaped by grand narratives of rulers and wars, an object like this becomes a poignant reminder of the countless untold stories of ordinary people. It invites us to imagine the hands that crafted it, and the hands that opened it, connecting us to a shared human experience across time. It offers a quiet, but powerful statement about value, memory, and the enduring human need to safeguard what matters most.