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

This -Globe Safe with Hinged Door- still bank was made by Kenton Hardware Manufacturing Co. sometime between 1890 and 1950. I’m drawn to the surface, to the traces of time on the metal. Patina is everything. The browns and blacks have an almost painterly quality, like a dark abstract expressionist piece. The sphere is an obvious symbol, of course, but it also creates a kind of tension. It’s solid, but also suggests movement. The feet anchor it, give it stability, but they're also kind of whimsical, like something from a fairytale. Then you notice the circular lock, and that globe form becomes a container, a place for secrets. It makes you think about what we choose to protect, and how. It makes me think of the work of Haim Steinbach, who also elevates everyday objects, inviting us to see them in a new light. Ultimately, this “Globe Safe” reminds us that art isn't just about beauty, it's about ideas, and the stories we tell ourselves.