Book still bank c. 19th century

This small, wooden bank in the shape of a book was made by an anonymous artist, and its date is unknown. The floral carving suggests a rural origin and perhaps a connection to folk art traditions. In nineteenth-century America, saving money became increasingly associated with moral virtue, and institutions such as banks and schools promoted the idea of thrift, so this humble object may reflect the rise of new ideologies and class structures. The book form may suggest the value of learning and literacy, but it is not possible to say with certainty whether the bank form was intended to be a satirical comment on the growing importance of wealth. By researching the history of American banking and education we can get a clearer understanding of the object’s social meaning. Such research demonstrates that the meaning of art is always contingent on its cultural and institutional context.