-Battleship Maine- still bank c. 1902

This small-scale bronze battleship, a still bank, was created by E. Stevens. The material itself speaks of industry, resilience, and the weight of history, right? It’s got that aged bronze patina suggesting time and tales. I bet Stevens would be fascinated by how his work stands the test of time. Imagine him in the workshop, carefully casting the metal, aware of the ship's symbolism, maybe even thinking about the economic implications of such a thing being used to store money. I wonder if he wanted to evoke power or something else. Perhaps something more complex about nationhood? It’s like he's having a conversation with history, with labor, and with the everyday reality of people saving their pennies. It makes me consider the conversations we are all having across time.