-Servel Electrolux- still bank c. mid 20th century

This -Servel Electrolux- still bank was made by the National Die Casting Co. It's a little fridge, a place to keep your pennies, and I love the way it shows its age. The paint job isn't perfect, it's got that slightly worn look, like an old toy that's been loved. It’s the kind of object where you can see the hand in it, even if it’s mass-produced. My eye is drawn to the edges, where the white paint is chipped and the grey metal underneath peeks through. It reminds me of my own work, where I often leave traces of the underpainting visible. It's a way of revealing the history of the object, the layers of time and process that have gone into its making. This little fridge bank reminds me a bit of Claes Oldenburg's oversized sculptures of everyday objects. They both take something familiar and transform it into something strange and wonderful. Like all good art, it invites us to look at the world in a new way.