-Seated Bear- still bank c. 1820

Curator: Here we have an engaging piece of American folk art: a stoneware figural still bank, likely crafted around 1820. It depicts a seated bear with an endearingly human quality. Editor: It’s charmingly goofy! That glazed brown is just dripping with sweetness – like looking at a caramel bear clinging to its treasure. Its squat shape seems sturdy and safe, evoking those familiar childhood piggy banks that held onto our first savings. Curator: Yes, the glazing is remarkable, characteristic of early American stoneware production. What strikes me most is the figure of a bear, commonly a symbol of strength and primal power. The choice to represent it as seated and contemplative is highly meaningful. Editor: Contemplative… I guess so, maybe it’s plotting its escape from the bank, with its coin hoard. The little slit where the money goes in actually reminds me of a wry smile or a clever thought bubble popping over its head. You can see so many conflicting things. Curator: Bear symbolism in the early 19th century carried many implications. For some, bears were totems of wilderness, while to others they became aligned with emerging popular entertainments. To many families, saving a penny held serious ramifications. Editor: That makes total sense to place that animal form, which is both funny and majestic, into something domestic like that; those banks often carry something sentimental or protective like those toys for your childhood. In a way, they symbolize a child's future independence, just stored away and waiting for a moment to shine! Curator: Indeed, and you have raised a rich and thoughtful angle! Editor: Well, in the end, this adorable bank isn’t just stoneware but something that brings stories to the eye. Curator: A fascinating fusion of cultural artifact and material culture object; what could be better than considering the many facets in this deceptively simple figure?