-Fish-Pig- still bank c. 1969

Editor: This charming ceramic piggy bank, dating back to around 1969, is playfully titled '-Fish-Pig- still bank'. What strikes me is how it merges the mundane, a child's saving vessel, with a whimsical, almost mythical creature. What significance do you see in these combined images? Curator: The image carries multiple layers. Delftware often uses blue and white, a pattern deeply entrenched in our understanding of value. Yet, placing this color scheme onto a folk-art-inspired figure like a ‘fish-pig’ muddles those connections, right? Editor: I can see what you mean! It's not purely functional, but it isn't purely ornamental either. Curator: Exactly. This in-betweenness points towards deeper ideas about security. A child’s bank embodies safety, growth, the future. Now think about the hybrid form. The "fish-pig" brings forth other interpretations; Fish symbolize abundance and transformation; pigs often reflect prosperity. Can you sense a conversation between reality and something more…dreamlike? Editor: Yes, I see it now. The object becomes more than its parts. Combining two potent cultural symbols heightens the emotional weight. Curator: Indeed. And notice how cartoonish elements are included! By embracing simplified lines and shapes, artists have long tried to capture fundamental elements of shared visual language. Even something meant to teach a basic lesson - like saving money - gains layers. Editor: It's intriguing how this little piggy bank, intended for something so practical, opens up so much about how we view wealth and security across cultures. I really didn't anticipate reading so much symbolism into something so unassuming. Curator: Exactly! Doesn't it reveal how artifacts are truly cultural vessels, capable of holding layered significances beyond the easily apparent?