-Public Telephone- still bank c. early 20th century

This small, anonymous still bank, titled "Public Telephone," is a charming example of early 20th-century Americana. The black, cast iron piece features a realistic depiction of a public telephone with a working bell, a removable receiver, and a slot for coins. The worn patina of the object evokes the passage of time, suggesting its history as a treasured item and a symbol of an era before ubiquitous mobile communication. The bank is currently on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.