-Dogs in Trunk- still bank c. 1915

This "Dogs in Trunk" still bank, its maker unknown, is a playful little thing, full of texture and sheen. The woven trunk feels tactile, as if you could run your fingers along the silvered surface. It is fascinating how the illusion of basketry is achieved, and what this material suggests metaphorically. The dogs themselves are so earnest, those heavy-lidded eyes peering up at you with an almost human expression. Look at the way the light catches the curve of their heads, and how each strand of the ‘wicker’ is picked out. I find myself wanting to see what's inside. What secrets does it hold? It reminds me a little of Joseph Cornell’s boxes, containing entire worlds in miniature, or perhaps a David Shrigley drawing, with its gentle humor and slightly melancholic tone. The work is less about definitive answers and more about sparking a sense of curiosity and wonder.