Chest of drawers still bank c. 1790

This miniature chest of drawers, a still bank, presents us with symbols of domesticity and security. The chest of drawers itself, a common household item, becomes a repository not just for clothes but also for savings, hinting at the emerging middle-class values of thrift and domestic comfort. Consider the parallel between this humble piece and the grand coffers of Renaissance Europe, both serving as guardians of wealth. Yet, while the coffer spoke of dynastic power, this chest whispers of personal industry and familial stability. The dark knobs punctuating each drawer invoke a psychoanalytic perspective, symbolizing control and management of one's inner world, where financial anxieties and aspirations reside. The idea of containment and accumulation is timeless. This "still bank" resonates with our modern desire for safety and control over our economic lives. While the materials and function of the "still bank" have adapted over time, the underlying desire for security remains a constant thread in the fabric of human experience.