-Thrify Tower- mechanical bank c. 20th century

This “Thrifty Tower” mechanical bank was made by an anonymous artist, using wood. It’s this warm, ruddy brown, with all these great carved details – like teeth, or crenellations. You can imagine someone sitting, maybe in the evening, carefully chipping away at this thing, thinking about towers, or forts, or maybe just the pleasure of making something useful. There’s something so appealing about the handmade quality of it, all the little imperfections that show the artist’s hand at work. The artist’s desire to make something that lasts – outliving them – is almost touchingly hopeful. I especially love the little figure perched on top, like a tiny guard keeping watch over your savings. It reminds me of some folk art sculptures I’ve seen, all rough edges and simple forms. And the way the light catches those carved details… you can almost feel the texture of the wood. In a funny way, it is a close cousin to the big, abstract canvases we see in museums! It embraces uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.