An exhibition of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century wooden boxes that held expensive teas, protected the household silver and provided necessary storage for food, clothing and important family documents, will be on view at the Brandywine River Museum in “Beyond Content: Decorative Wooden Boxes” in conjunction with the museum’s annual antiques show May 24′6. Created by master carpenters, skilled craftsmen and hobbyists, the boxes feature a broad range of decorative elements such as paint, inlay and carving, that transformed practical objects into treasured containers.
Today, the word “box” conjures an image of cardboard or plastic. In the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries, households did not have the abundance of closets and cabinets common today, so wooden boxes were often used. Varied decorative methods ensured that households at all income levels could afford boxes that brightened and beautified their homes.
Exhibition highlights include a trinket box with bright red and yellow painted tulips, and painted inscription “A. Schmulz,” a rare box for a tri-corner hat, inlaid with a circle and arching lines carved by a compass, and a miniature blanket chest, crafted with the same detail and care as a full-sized one, with three delicately carved scallop shells and ribbonlike tendrils.
“Beyond Content: Decorative Wooden Boxes” is the decorative arts exhibition for the museum’s 37th annual antiques show Memorial Day weekend. Assistant curator Lee Wierenga organized the exhibit. A guided tour of the exhibition will be Saturday at 9:30 am.
The Brandywine River Museum Antiques Show features 31 antique dealers showcasing American country and formal furniture, folk art, Asian and European ceramics, Chinese Export porcelain, quilts, rugs, clock cases, accessories and more. Admission is $10 per person and all proceeds benefit the Museum Volunteers’ Art Purchase Fund.
The Brandywine River Museum is on US Route 1. For more information, 610-388-2700 or www.brandywinemuseum.org .
