-Punch on Wheeled Base- still bank c. 20th century

This painted cast-iron still bank, representing the character Punch, was likely made in the early 20th century by Xonex International. Cast iron was a common industrial material, allowing for the mass production of durable objects. Notice how the inherent qualities of this material—its weight and capacity to hold fine detail—have been exploited. The bank’s design cleverly incorporates its function into its form: a coin placed in Punch’s hand activates a mechanism, causing him to drop the coin into the bank below, all the while a grotesque smile stretches across his face. The character itself is a grotesque caricature, reflecting cultural attitudes of the time, advertising a product, here, cigars. The amount of hand work involved in painting this piece is also noteworthy. This still bank is more than just a functional object or a representation of a popular character, but a reflection of early consumer culture, combining mass production with hand-applied details, blurring the boundaries between industrial manufacturing and craft.