-Clown- still bank c. 1850

Curator: Here we have a rather intriguing piece, an anonymous still bank from around 1850 titled "-Clown-". Editor: It has an unnerving, almost sinister cheerfulness to it. That simple, fixed smile contrasted with those wide blue eyes is certainly striking. Curator: Indeed. What we see here is more than just a child’s toy. Its existence reflects a growing market for domestic goods during the mid-19th century. Notice the exaggerated features. These banks weren't merely functional; they served a didactic purpose. Editor: How so? The clown archetype itself is multifaceted. It occupies a complicated space in culture; humor is very often a deflection or means of underscoring tensions. Considering what we know about entertainment from the time, can we situate that grin within broader socio-political conversations around race or class? Curator: It’s a fascinating point. While seemingly innocuous, these depictions of clowns—a popular form of entertainment for both children and adults—also carried socio-political baggage. Such objects became tools for enculturating specific economic values, a silent curriculum if you will, preparing children for the expectations of emerging capitalist society. Editor: That rings true. And I see it also—the pointed head, almost like a dunce cap… and the rough, aged surface. It isn’t idealized, but has imperfections, as though time is commenting on its place within the circus of commodity and performance. I keep coming back to how much it unsettles me. Curator: Perhaps it’s that uncanny valley effect. We project expectations onto representations of humans, and when they deviate, discomfort arises. That initial "creepiness" opens interesting historical pathways for investigation. It reveals how embedded societal values truly are in objects that we would, at first glance, consider harmless. Editor: Exactly. What began as an initial, gut reaction pulls us toward deeper inquiry, urging us to consider this seemingly simple artifact as a cultural and historical record. Curator: Thank you. I hope this look into the “-Clown-” bank opens an interesting investigation for you as well.