-Mosque- mechanical bank c. 1880s

Editor: This curious piece, circa the 1880s, is entitled "-Mosque- mechanical bank" and it comes to us from H. L. Judd Manufacturing Company. It seems to be some sort of mixed media assemblage. What do you see in this, what should we make of it? Curator: What do I see? Well, I see a Victorian-era object trying on exoticism for size! This little architectural sculpture, cast in metal, plays with our turn-of-the-century fascination with the "Orient", a theme running through decorative arts at the time. A bank shaped like a Mosque – slightly bizarre, no? Almost irreverent, you might say, but I suspect it spoke to a rising middle class accumulating wealth and wanting to show it off with worldly trinkets. What do *you* make of the figure atop the dome? Editor: Hmm. At first glance I thought it might be a "Muezzin", or someone calling to prayer, but looking closer... it looks more like a European figure! What's that about? Curator: Exactly! This detail underscores the work's cultural complexities. It’s this layering, this misinterpretation and romanticism of another culture, which gives it a fascinating edge. Consider the purpose, too – it’s a bank. Nesting your savings in this miniature mosque suggests, perhaps, a way of ‘banking’ on the exotic! Editor: That's interesting. So the function of the piece creates the potential for an additional interpretation, one perhaps unavailable with pure sculpture. Curator: Precisely! And perhaps our awareness can serve as a 'coin' of empathy, leading to cultural sensitivity. Editor: Right, looking closely at this bank has opened my eyes. I will not look at mechanical banks the same again. Thanks!