Doosje bij penning: Die tyranny verdryven... 1948

This box was made by Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt NV, we don’t know exactly when, to house a coin that translates as ‘to drive out tyranny’. The box itself is a deep, dark blue, almost bruised in color, and textured like faux leather, a modest vessel for its precious cargo. It's so unassuming, right? But that’s the thing about containers; they hold worlds. The label stuck on top, with its old handwriting, feels like a whisper from the past, hinting at stories of resistance and hope. I love that the box is slightly worn, edges softened, a testament to being handled, passed on, perhaps even hidden away. Boxes always remind me of Joseph Cornell's shadow boxes, these little universes contained within, inviting you to peer in and piece together narratives. This box, like Cornell's work, is not just about what it contains, but the stories it silently tells about history, memory, and the enduring struggle for freedom. It’s a quiet object, but speaks volumes.