Cilidrical covered box in the shape of a cricket's cage c. 1675 - 1699

Curator: Well, here we have an intriguing object: a cylindrical covered box, crafted to resemble a cricket cage. Editor: It has a strange formality to it, don't you think? The delicate legs lift it almost ceremoniously, even though the overall impression is playful with all of its botanical ornamentation. Curator: Indeed. This piece dates back to somewhere between 1675 and 1699. It's currently housed at the Rijksmuseum. What’s really fascinating to me is thinking about the context in which this anonymous artisan was working. Decorative art from this era represents a confluence of influences, materials traded along global networks of commercial exchange, skills being practiced at a certain site... Editor: The means of production also seem central to interpreting its intention, the hand obviously guiding its execution... the repetition in the lattice-like detailing on the lid. What kind of kiln was used to fire this ceramic, and to what end, and how does that compare to the construction of similar artworks during this period? The value of the art, of course, stems from it existing centuries after it was constructed. I imagine objects like these once existing in wealthier households where the sound of crickets was enjoyed. Curator: Precisely. The very concept of "decorative art" highlights the complex relationship between the aesthetic object and its practical, social use. I see an intricate interplay of social status, commercial trade, artistic license and daily life. The role that a gallery like this one has in giving artwork of this type renewed context fascinates me! Editor: It's almost an archive in and of itself. I concur, the intersection of materials, culture, and presentation... It invites contemplation on labor, intention, and its path to becoming art as it is seen today. Thank you for elaborating. Curator: My pleasure. It gives us a lot to think about. Editor: Agreed. Thank you!