Cupboard 1870

Curator: Here we have what’s known simply as "Cupboard," dating back to 1870. It resides here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: Oh, my, that's… cheerful! It feels like a folksy burst of sunshine. I’m getting a strong sense of…Grandma’s kitchen meets a Wes Anderson film. Curator: The cupboard employs mixed media, blending wood, paint, porcelain, and even a touch of bronze. It really showcases the breadth of materials available and the artisan’s skill in combining them. Its decorative style is undeniably folk art, full of the motifs and imagery you might see adorning traditional homes. Notice, it’s also an example of historic architecture! Editor: Right! The vibrant blues, reds, and those almost cartoonish flower details feel like a visual hug. The script on the middle section, the lettering… is that the maker’s mark, perhaps? Or a family name? Curator: Exactly! It’s inscribed with the name John Eriksen Brithuijns and the year, suggesting it might have been commissioned, or perhaps was even a wedding gift. That practice was quite popular. These sorts of items served as a cultural storehouse of tradition and identity. Editor: Absolutely! And the choice of those materials speaks volumes, doesn't it? Wood for the grounding structure, but then paint and porcelain to elevate it – to turn it into a treasured object. Like a sacred piece, a mini temple to daily life. You could almost say its design represents heaven, earth, and home, right? Curator: Interesting you see it that way. We often think of cupboards as simple storage, but objects like these have symbolic value, expressing cultural continuity, heritage, and skill through each element, each drawer. Editor: I am charmed, thoroughly charmed! It makes me wonder what stories this piece could tell if it could talk. What secrets it kept nestled in its drawers? The romance of the ordinary. That’s what really sings out at me. Curator: A poignant reminder that beauty often resides in the everyday, even a seemingly plain wooden cupboard.