Hoedendoos, bestemd voor officierhoofddeksels c. 1880 - 1920

This is a hat box, probably from the Netherlands, designed to hold military headwear, by Eduard Kühne. While it may seem mundane, this object speaks volumes about the social and institutional structures of its time. The hat box reflects the importance of military dress in the 19th century, when uniforms were carefully regulated and designed to project an image of power and authority. The care taken in preserving the hats suggests the importance of maintaining this image, both for the individual officer and for the military as a whole. Who were the consumers for this kind of object? How was it marketed to them? What other kinds of visual imagery surrounded military culture at this time? Answering these questions through sustained historical research allows us to appreciate this object as more than just a container. It is a window into a world of social hierarchies, military power, and the visual construction of identity.