-The Child's Bank- still bank c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have "The Child's Bank," a mixed-media still bank likely from the 19th century. It has such a sturdy, geometric form, but then you get these swirling, foliate patterns on it. What stories do you think this piece might be telling? Curator: The symbolic language here is intriguing. Notice the tension between the rigid geometry of the cube and the organic, almost sinuous quality of the applied decoration. The box as a form represents containment, a safe space. What might the gilded foliage evoke for you? Editor: Something about growth and prosperity, I think. Maybe also memory, like pressing flowers in a book? Curator: Precisely. And in the context of a child's bank, we see the shaping of cultural values. The careful decoration elevates the act of saving. What does it mean to imbue something as simple as saving money with this level of aesthetic and symbolic weight? Is it solely about financial security? Or something deeper? Editor: Maybe it’s about teaching delayed gratification? The patterns make me think this was a prized object too. Like an aesthetic lesson disguised as a tool. Curator: Consider too how this object carries memory. What aspirations for the future were deposited within this metal box alongside pennies and nickels? It’s about creating a tangible record. Each coin holds a promise, nurtured within this meticulously decorated space. Editor: I see the layers here; it's not just about the money but about values passed down through generations. This little bank is so much bigger than it seems! Curator: Indeed, the deceptively simple form conceals layers of meaning, reminding us that objects are not merely functional, they actively shape our understanding of the world.