Vigo County Historical Society

Box shows whimsy of Victorian era

Queen Victoria ruled England from 1837 until 1901 and a very wise queen she was. Her reign was one of great economic, political and social change, and the art which emerged from this period was different and quite imaginative.

Victorian art objects were sometimes garish or brash, eccentric or whimsical, but they were never dull. The homes of that time were filled with all kinds of small objects, some useful and some purely ornamental and all very interesting for today’s collector.

What does all of this have to do with the little box in the picture? Just this: the influence of the Victorian era extended well into the 20th century. Although this little box may not date as far back as the Victorian times, it could certainly be classified as being like one of the little "unnecessaries" of that time. It could be further classified as a good sample of whimsical art.

The box measures about 6 inches on each side. The center part is about 4 inches and that is where the actual storage place is found. It is made of lightweight, sturdy cardboard and is covered with a gray, ridged paper. The edges are neatly trimmed with a narrow flower paper border. Pasted on the lid of the box is a glossy-textured picture of a beautiful young girl.

We can only guess as to the origin and the age of the box or even how it came to the museum as there are no records concerning its past.

Another point of speculation is for what use the box was intended. Before the days of paper tissues, handkerchiefs were an important part of a lady’s wardrobe and many kinds of little boxes were provided for their keeping. This box is just about the right size and shape for a group of neatly-folded linen and lace hankies.

It might also have been used to contain jewelry, lace collars, gloves, or neatly-tied bunches of love letters. The possibilities of its use are numerous and probably varied at different times in its history.

The workmanship is neat but not quite professional, so we wonder if it could have been made by an older child for a mother, aunt or grandmother. On the other hand, a mother could have made it for a daughter just entering young womanhood. A loving husband might have given it as a gift to his wife on her birthday, or filled with dainty candies or a string of pearls as a St. Valentine’s Day gift.

The little box will keep its secret and we will, of necessity, have to be content with making up our own stories. One thing we do know, however, is that someone considered it a thing of value or it would not have come to the museum in such good state of preservation.

The little box rests on a shelf in the Country Store display in the lower level.