Patch Box
Artist unknown
1710–30
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
2 × 5.1 × 7.6 cm (7/16 × 2 × 3 1/8 in.)
Classification
container
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
100828
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Patch boxes were popular accessories for both men and women in the eighteenth century. They were used to hold artificial beauty marks, or patches, which were applied to the face, sometimes over blemishes or smallpox scars. These patches were commonly made out of black paper, velvet, or silk that could be cut into a variety of shapes and designs. Placing patches on specific areas of the face held different meanings. For instance, one placed at the corner of the eye was supposed to evoke passion.