-Champion Cash Register- still bank c. early 20th century

This "Champion Cash Register" still bank, made by an anonymous artist, is a charming little object. The process of creating this piece seems straightforward, almost like a paint-by-numbers, but the result has real character. The material itself, tin, has a cool, smooth surface, painted with an understated black, punctuated by the gleam of gold lettering and details. I am drawn to the shapes of the numerals, those teardrop forms that drop down. It’s as though the artist or designer wanted to create a sense of value with these small increments, those 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 amounts. This piece reminds me of the work of Joseph Cornell, with his shadow boxes containing collections of found objects. But unlike Cornell, who arranges objects in a surreal tableau, this anonymous maker seems more interested in the practical function of a container for savings. It reminds us that art, at its best, can be found in the everyday, in the things we use and cherish.