-Elephant- mechanical bank c. 20th century

This delightful little Elephant mechanical bank was made by Ru Gar Ent. Co. Look at the sleek, smooth surface of this copper-colored elephant. It invites you to touch, doesn't it? The way the light catches its curves suggests it could be made of something luxurious, like polished bronze. I imagine the artist, maybe in a small workshop, carefully crafting the form of the elephant. The elephant trunk is particularly intriguing, it is exaggerated and bent upwards in an almost whimsical way. This gesture changes its meaning. Maybe it symbolizes the way we reach for our goals and aspirations, curving around and upwards. The elephant is frozen in time, but the artist is still in conversation with the world, provoking our thoughts and feelings.