-Uncle Sam- mechanical bank c. 1886

Editor: So, this is a mechanical bank from around 1886, featuring Uncle Sam. It’s a mixed media piece, predominantly metal. The colours, very patriotic of course, feel almost satirical. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: I find the piece fascinating as a product of its time. Mechanical banks like this weren't just toys; they were active participants in shaping cultural values. Consider how this particular bank presents Uncle Sam, an emblem of American ideals, intertwined with the very act of saving and investment. How does it normalize capitalism at a very young age? Editor: That’s a very different approach than I had considered. I was focused on it being like kitsch, but what you’re saying is there’s this embedded… indoctrination? Curator: Exactly. And the material, metal, lends a sense of permanence and strength. Think about the Gilded Age – rapid industrialization, burgeoning capitalism. The bank embodies these forces, encouraging children to literally invest in the American project. The eagle imagery further reinforces the association of saving with patriotism and national identity. Editor: So it’s less about the art object itself, and more about its place in promoting consumerism. Curator: Precisely. It functioned as propaganda. I wonder how children then interacted with this object, understanding it as a model for their economic future and a vision of national identity. Were they conscious that their small savings were not simply a lesson in frugality but a gesture of political and cultural participation? Editor: I’d never really considered toys in this light before. I'm rethinking a lot. Curator: It makes you question what other seemingly innocent objects around us carry embedded meanings. This helps understand the values a particular era transmits.