Doos behorend bij een bronzen penning 1888

This unassuming box was made to house a bronze medal by Ludwig Jünger, probably in the late 19th or early 20th century. While the medal itself would have been made through a process of design and mold-making, followed by casting and finishing of the metal, we can assume that the box involved a different set of skills. The box is made from cardboard covered in textured paper, and was likely produced in multiples. Think of the labour involved in its making: the harvesting of pulp, the grinding and pressing of the cardboard, the coating of the paper, the cutting, folding and gluing, the final assembly. Though it is easy to overlook something as simple as this, it represents a whole world of often-invisible work. Considering the care taken to make this box, we can appreciate that even the most humble materials can be imbued with significance. This box is a reminder that craft and industry are interwoven, each elevating the other.