Cat and Ball Coin Bank c. 1939

William O. Fletcher captured these 'Cat and Ball Coin Bank' designs, showcasing the cat, a complex symbol, playing with a sphere. The motif of an animal playing with a ball is ancient. Think of the lioness with a sphere, a symbol of power and playfulness, found in various cultures. Here, the cat’s domestication is a departure, yet it still retains that primal instinct, that spark of wildness. This image resonates with our understanding of the duality of nature: the controlled versus the untamed. This tension exists in all of us. The cat, once revered in ancient Egypt, shifted through history, embodying both luck and misfortune. Today, as a coin bank, it domesticates our desires for wealth, taming our financial anxieties. The image serves as a reminder of how symbols transform. From divine representation to household object, it reflects our ever-changing relationship with nature and our subconscious desires.