-Giant in Tower- mechanical bank c. 1892

Editor: Right now we’re looking at “Giant in Tower” a mechanical bank made around 1892 by John Harper & Company. It's this whimsical little bronze sculpture that makes me think of a fairytale—but one with a slightly sinister edge. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: It reminds me a little of childhood, you know? Like, the magic of saving. The patina of time adds this gorgeous layer of authenticity. Can you imagine the hands that lovingly placed their coins in this tower, dreaming of the day their pennies would turn into something bigger, brighter? Tell me, does that fierce-looking giant bother you? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it like that. I guess it's the spear he's holding that feels off to me. Like he's protecting the treasure *inside*. What sort of stories would people tell around this object? Curator: Perhaps they dreamt of valiant knights, fierce battles, and, naturally, untold riches! There's a darker side to all these mechanical banks though, and I think they can reflect some anxiety about banking practices during the Gilded Age. You see these charming objects are also commenting on anxieties about capitalism, security and who has access to what, or who guards what? The giant *is* rather intimidating... Editor: I get that! I initially saw a fairy tale object and it is, but I never considered the social messaging and complexities behind children's banking items in the 19th century! Curator: See? Art does this little thing – reflects the mundane and the sublime, side by side. Like this quirky giant with his hidden tower of dreams, this piece asks, 'what will you protect, and what might you sacrifice, in pursuit of treasure? ' It is more of a question for the little savers of today than you think!