shadow box
Quick Summary
A shadow box is a shallow display case, typically with a glass front, designed to protect and showcase an item. The term "shadow box" as a noun dates back to the late 19th century.12
Joseph Cornell, an American artist, was a pioneer of assemblage art and is well-known for his shadow boxes, which he also referred to as "memory boxes" or "poetic theatres". These glass-fronted boxes contain found objects and collaged elements arranged in enigmatic and poetic ways. Common themes in Cornell's shadow boxes include astronomy, music, ballet, and Hollywood stars.3
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