Box 18th century

This small box was crafted by Wilhelm Krüger sometime between 1680 and 1756. The lid is a black ground with gilt figures that seem to depict life in the colonies, complete with palm trees, figures in period clothing, and a building. The sides present another set of symbols: palm trees again appear, alongside rabbits and a simple house. Palm trees evoke ideas of paradise, while rabbits symbolize fertility, and the house is a symbol of shelter and security. Yet, the juxtaposition of these symbols creates a tension. The palm tree, historically associated with triumph and eternal life, is here set against the rabbit, a creature often associated with vulnerability and mortality. Think of Botticelli’s Venus and how it speaks to the human spirit's resilience. Just as Botticelli drew on classical antiquity to express Renaissance ideals, Krüger uses these symbols, which echo through history, to evoke something ineffable. These images are cultural memories, constantly reshaped by the subconscious. We see them, interpret them, and add our own experiences to their story. These symbols are never truly still, continually surfacing and transforming in the currents of time.