-Piano- (converted still bank) mechanical bank c. 1900

Editor: So, here we have "-Piano- (converted still bank) mechanical bank," made around 1900 by the E. M. Roche Novelty Company. It's an assemblage of metal. It's charming! Almost like a dollhouse piano, but clearly meant for a different purpose. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: The overt symbolism. It is designed to evoke the pleasure of music, yet the grim practicality of banking and saving. We have an idealized vision of music through a wreath incorporating instruments--harp, violin, trumpet--set within a box. What emotions arise when you consider those juxtaposed elements? Editor: It’s a little conflicting. The ornate musical references suggest luxury and leisure, but the “mechanical bank” aspect speaks to industry and thrift. Did these kinds of symbolic contrasts resonate with people at the time? Curator: Absolutely. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a potent visual culture surrounding self-improvement and aspirations to refinement through both education and financial planning. Images like this offered both a beautiful object and a visual metaphor for disciplined savings and potential upward mobility. Do you find any social commentary in its message? Editor: Maybe a little bit. I guess I hadn't really considered it as a cultural artifact reflecting on aspiration. But now it's clear that objects like this weren't *just* for children. Curator: Precisely. Everyday objects from the past provide insights into broader values, desires, and belief systems. I believe a deeper reflection can lead to greater understanding. Editor: It’s really fascinating how a small object can reveal such complex cultural attitudes. Curator: And how art serves to not just document these attitudes but perpetuate them through image and icon.