-Seated Humpty Dumpty- still bank c. 20th century

Editor: So this is “Seated Humpty Dumpty- still bank,” a bronze sculpture from around the 20th century. It's... kind of cute in a weird way. What do you make of it? Curator: Cute is one way to put it. I’m immediately drawn to its material presence and the object’s inherent utility. It's bronze, so it has weight, it’s something manufactured to serve a purpose. This "still bank" isn't high art. The focus should shift to who produced it, for what market, and to what end. Editor: So, less about the art and more about… the production of the object? Curator: Precisely. Think about the foundry. The labor. The social implications of turning a children's nursery rhyme into a commercial product made of bronze. And think about the idea of a "still bank". Is this about childhood? Saving? Capitalism? It’s not merely representational, it's functional, which connects it directly to the everyday lived experiences of its owners. How does this object operate in their daily life? Editor: I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way. It's easy to just see Humpty Dumpty and not the larger context. Curator: Exactly! Material and method dictates meaning. Why bronze and not plastic? Who benefits from this production, and how are we, as viewers, implicated in the object's journey from factory to museum? It really forces us to question the value systems at play here. Editor: Wow, okay, that definitely gives me a lot to think about. I guess I see how much a "simple" folk-art figure can speak volumes about production and society. Curator: Absolutely. It’s less about Humpty Dumpty and more about *how* and *why* he was brought to life in bronze as a vehicle for financial savings.