Favorite Object

Museum Practicum: Favorite Object

Oktavia LaBarge

September 5th, 2013

                       

Title of Object: Jewelry Box

Year you received it: 2002

Material: Linden wood

Creator: Enchanted World of Boxes (EWB)

When I was younger, my parents moved from Cincinnati, Ohio to Bethesda, Maryland.  During this transition, I was sent to live with my grandparents in Kingston, New York for the summer. During this summer at my grandparents I decided that what I really wanted and needed was a new jewelry box, although I did not own any jewelry at this time.  My grandmother spent all summer helping me look for a new jewelry box and finally during a trip to Woodstock, New York, we stumbled across this particular jewelry box.  It was created by a company called Enchanted World of Boxes, or EWB.  On the top of the jewelry box are carved images in a folk art style of a conjoined sun and moon, surrounded by stars. On the exterior sides of the box are three yellow waves.

This jewelry box is my favorite object because it was a gift from my grandmother on my father’s side.  She was recently been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. The jewelry box is a constant reminder of my grandmother’s love for her grandchildren.  She has always hated shopping, but was willing to go to what felt like every store in Kingston, New York area to find this jewelry box that I desperately thought I needed.

The jewelry box is always placed on display in my room and it holds my most expensive jewelry.  The box currently sits on top of my dresser, in front of two framed photographs and a mirror.  Next to the jewelry box is next to an odd shaped gold and green bowl which holds my bracelets.  I purposefully make sure that the jewelry box is always prominently displayed in my room given it puts a smile on my face as I know it would do for her as well.

All of these objects reveal a glimpse into the understanding of who I am.  The two photographs behind my jewelry box include a photo of my best friend, Kristina and I, while the other is a photo of my boyfriend, Noah.  Each of these frames are uniquely textured and I purchased them from thrift and antique stores.  This reveals my passion of discount shopping.  The bowl next to the jewelry box is often overflowing with bracelets, which shows my love of chunky and fun bracelets.  I have three different perfumes, which are almost, and two different candles.  One of the candles is a tall blue Goya brand candle, which my aunt, who is very interested in spirituality, suggested to put it in the corner of my room to create a soothing and calming environment.  

To better understand this object, it would be helpful to contact the artistic group who created these boxes.  This would help to learn the meaning and reasoning behind the exterior design.  In addition, to enrich one’s understanding of this box, one could visit the location in Woodstock, New York, where it was purchased.  Furthermore, opening the box and examining the objects inside could help the viewer have a better understanding of what the box means to me. 

Someone who would not be interested in this object may be someone who does not have a lot of any jewelry or does not need a jewelry box.  Also, this would not appeal to someone who is not interested in the folk art style.  Having received this box as a child from my grandmother, my perspective would differ from someone else buying the box.  Different viewers may not have a similar emotional attachment that I have grown to developed for this jewelry box.  It would be interesting to hear from people who also bought a similar jewelry box to understand how they feel about the object.

When I first received the jewelry box, inside was a square informational card about the artist and their artistic purpose.  Allowing viewers to read the short informational card about the object, may better their understanding about these one-of-a-kind handcrafted boxes.  It would also be interesting to learn what people thought when they see this jewelry box in my room.