Octagonal box with cipher of John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll 1716

This Octagonal box, made by James Fraillon in the early 18th century, presents a study in geometric precision and social identity. The box’s structure, defined by its eight sides, creates a play of light and shadow that emphasizes its metallic materiality. The highly polished surfaces reflect the surrounding space, integrating the object with its environment. The cipher of John Campbell, the 2nd Duke of Argyll, is prominently engraved on the lid. This monogram, crowned with a ducal coronet, serves as a potent signifier of status and belonging. The choice of an octagonal form destabilizes the conventional associations of circles with harmony or squares with stability. This divergence might suggest the Duke's unique position within the social hierarchy of his time. The careful craftsmanship and symbolic details invite ongoing reflection on how objects like this communicate complex ideas about status, identity, and spatial relations.