-Lincoln High Hat (Pass Around the Hat)- still bank c. 1882

This diminutive still bank, titled "Lincoln High Hat (Pass Around the Hat)," resides in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Its anonymous creation invites contemplation on form, function, and historical echoes. The bank's dark, patinated surface gives it a weighty presence despite its small size. The piece is dominated by two shapes; a cylinder for the body of the hat and the broad oval which forms the brim. There is a clear horizontal and vertical division to the composition, as well as textural contrast which invites a semiotic reading: the smooth cylindrical body in contrast to the inscription around the coin slot on top. The hat, an object historically associated with status and ceremony, is here refigured as a receptacle for savings, suggesting themes of aspiration and social mobility. The artwork prompts us to consider the interplay between mundane, functional objects and the broader cultural narratives they evoke. It functions as a symbolic repository, raising questions about history, and the values we assign to objects.