Doos horend bij een bronzen penning 1879

This is a box, likely made for a bronze medal by Edouard Colinet. While simple in appearance, boxes such as this are fascinating cultural objects that tell us something of the role of institutions in shaping how art is received. The box itself creates meaning through its visual codes. The dark color and sturdy construction denote prestige and value. Its function is to carefully preserve the medal, and by extension, preserve and monumentalize the values or achievements that the medal itself represents. Consider how museums and collections rely on such modes of preservation. An object is collected, cared for, and displayed for the public. In this way, the museum acts as a cultural institution that confers value on objects. As a historian, I might consult museum archives and historical records to better understand the provenance of the medal and its box, and how it came to be part of a collection. In this way, we can appreciate the role of institutions in shaping our understanding of art and its place in society.