-Foxy Grandpa- still bank c. 1900

Curator: This diminutive ceramic still bank, dated circa 1900, offers an intriguing example of early 20th-century figuration. Note the details of the carving that depicts a bald man with grey hair and spectacles. Editor: My first thought? "Condescending." Something about that pursed smile and beady eye. There is an odd lack of warmth here. This must be a deliberate representation of authority and a bit of upper-class austerity, or perhaps satire? Curator: Look at the application of color; there's a striking contrast between the reddish hue of his cheeks and the stark white of his collar. It is meant to call attention to certain formal relationships within the ceramic portrait. Editor: Formal or intentional? Given the economic disparity of the time and who would have been using a “still bank,” this exaggerated caricature probably spoke volumes. Is this about aspiration or perhaps gentle mockery aimed at those deemed old and out-of-touch while also representing a shift in the public and domestic consumption of caricature art? Curator: A keen observation. Now look again at the placement of the coin slot. Consider the implications of its placement; positioned where we imagine the top of the skull is; perhaps as if ideas emerge like coins that we feed to others or a subtle connection between intellectual capacity and economic value? Editor: The 'Foxy Grandpa' comic was incredibly popular back then. Placing the coin slot on his head can be seen as another means of extracting wealth, reflecting how the elderly are both revered and commodified within the changing landscapes of domestic economics. Curator: A vital connection to its socio-historical context. I still appreciate how the sculptural form and coloring work together irrespective of meaning or historical impact, of course. Editor: Absolutely. It is in this kind of nuanced examination where historical meaning and artistry intertwine that we enrich our present perspectives.