-Saving Elves (registering)- still bank c. 1920

This anonymous little bank, *Saving Elves (registering)- still bank*, uses printed lithography on metal to create its images. The colours are mostly flat and contained, but there’s a kind of handmade feel in the way the elves are drawn, a charming naivety. Look closely, and you’ll see the surface isn't perfectly smooth; there are bumps and irregularities. The colours are bright in some areas, faded in others. It’s got that lovely, worn texture that tells a story of use and time. I love how the design incorporates the function; the way the elves are depositing coins right above the slot. The whole object feels like a playful comment on value and labor. It reminds me a bit of some of Red Grooms's sculptural streetscapes, but with a touch of folk-art simplicity. It's a reminder that art doesn't always need to be highbrow; sometimes it's just about making something fun and functional, an everyday object that sparks a little joy.