-Bank of Commerce- safe still bank c. 1904

This “Bank of Commerce Safe Still Bank” was probably made at the Kenton Hardware Manufacturing Co. sometime between 1890 and 1950. It's a funny object when you think about it, because this is the real thing reduced, and the real thing is already about money, which is also about the real thing, but not. The bank is metal, and probably cast from a mold. I bet that mold was beautiful. I wish I could see it! It would feel more real. I wonder what the person who designed this was thinking? Did they want to make a real bank? Or were they just trying to make a cute toy? There's a figure of a seated woman with a rudder, and an anchor, and a dial for opening. These are symbols of security, of course. It's a pretty funny way to think about security. The toy is about wanting to protect the money; the bank is about having the money.