-Cow- still bank c. 1910 - 1920

Editor: Here we have '-Cow- still bank', dating from around 1910 to 1920, crafted by the Arcade Manufacturing Company. It appears to be made of metal and functions as a coin bank. There’s something charmingly sturdy and simple about it. What visual elements stand out to you? Curator: Immediately, I'm drawn to the choice of the cow itself as an image, particularly in that time. Early twentieth century, the image of the cow and of course other livestock animals conjured ideas of American pastoral ideals, but also prosperity and agriculture’s dominance in the country. What is invoked by seeing an image of a cow from this era? Editor: I guess it is almost a comforting sense of nostalgia, maybe even simpler times or some sort of bygone golden era linked to agriculture and industry, although perhaps slightly romanticized. Do you feel there's a connection between the subject and the function of the piece? Curator: Absolutely. A "still bank" depicting a cow conflates saving money with ideas related to the promise of American plenty and well-being. Putting coins into a cow; what could be a more potent, lasting image? It speaks to a belief system, about working hard and being rewarded. Do you think its sculptural presence adds to the work's lasting symbolic power? Editor: That’s fascinating. Seeing it as a compact sculpture gives it a tangible reality, that this idealized promise is within reach for all who invest in this vision. I appreciate how the symbolism amplifies its significance beyond being simply decorative or utilitarian. Curator: And what are the potential ironies implied, knowing what happened later in that century regarding farming practices? Something once a potent and positive symbol now reads different given our relationship to livestock and consumerism, and changes in the country. I feel I learned a lot from hearing your perspective. Thank you.