-Begging Bear- still bank c. 1910s

This "Begging Bear" still bank was crafted by the A.C. Williams Company, its date unknown. Notice how the bear is upright, its paws raised in supplication— a gesture deeply embedded in the human psyche, resonating with dependency and appeal. This pose, reminiscent of religious iconography where figures reach out in supplication or divine entreaty, speaks to a primal desire for provision. Consider the medieval images of saints, their hands outstretched in a gesture of benediction or supplication, mirrors the bear's appeal. The motif migrates from the sacred to the secular, from human to animal, yet retains the undercurrent of yearning. The bear, an emblem of untamed wilderness, now domesticated through posture, evokes a complex interplay of control and vulnerability. The symbolism persists, albeit transformed, reminding us of our shared emotional landscape and the cyclical nature of visual motifs.