-Globe Safe with Hinged Door- still bank c. 1911 - 1931

This is a cast iron -Globe Safe with Hinged Door- still bank made by Kenton Hardware Manufacturing Co. Can you imagine the thinking that goes into designing something like this? It’s not just a place to store your pennies; it’s a mini-sculpture, a conversation starter. The texture of the iron gives it a tactile quality. I like to imagine the hand that cast it and the hand that painted it, not to mention all the hands that have put coins in it. It invites you to touch and play with it. I am also drawn to how solid it appears. The feet, like three little paws, give it a grounding presence that really appeals to me. In a way, this still bank speaks to the power of art to transform something ordinary into something special.