Epaulette Box 1936

Cornelius Frazier made this Epaulette Box, of undetermined date, using watercolor and graphite on paper. The materials are simple, common, accessible - a far cry from the precious metals and jewels often associated with military adornment. The box’s mottled surface, rendered in shades of brown and red, attempts to simulate the rich gleam of polished wood, while the graphite adds a subtle sheen to the decorative swirls on the lid. The artist’s hand is evident in every stroke, revealing the slow, deliberate process of building up color and texture, which mirrors the patient, skilled labor involved in traditional woodworking. The choice of such humble materials, when seen in light of the box’s intended function—to house an epaulette, a symbol of military rank and authority—invites us to consider the complex social context in which it was created. Is Frazier making a comment about labor, class, or the accessibility of status symbols? What does it mean to recreate an object of value and prestige using rudimentary means? By focusing on material and process, we can appreciate the artist’s technical skill, but also consider the wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption.