Paper
Box
circa 1930s (?)
What a joy - with
only yellow, red, blue and black the Lausanne-born Berzeviczy-Pallavicini
created this clever masterpiece. Meant to hold a trove of whatever un-earthly
delight(s) crafted by the renown Viennese confectionery, Demel (founded in
1786), this box acted as the opening scene to a treat determined to be as
delicious visually as it was literally.
The illustrations wiggle playfully across
the planes of paper. Sometimes they merge into confusing puddles of lines and
shapes, but this only adds to the box's intrigue. On one side we see a blue
arcade stretched to such heights that its arches reach the stars, while a
butterfly is about to flutter upwards into a circus of oddly-dressed
performers, from floating potted plants to disembodied gloved hands and
caterpillar-like sirens. The inset even shows a woman so consumed by her love
of perfect posture that she risks being ambushed by her devilish admirer. A clash
between many strange worlds! It is lucky for us that unlike the long-gone treat
that once took centre stage as part of this dramatic performance, its decorative
shell still remains - which serves as a tribute to the degree of care its past
owners felt and, now, still feel for it.
