Monkey still bank c. 20th century

This "Monkey Still Bank" was made by an anonymous artist out of glazed earthenware, likely sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Its creation involved several steps. First, the monkey form was likely cast in a mold. After the clay hardened, it was removed and fired. Then, the object was glazed and re-fired, giving it that shiny surface. Finally, the details were painted by hand, using colorful pigments. The ceramic material, which allows for replication, suggests this bank was mass-produced. This was a time when industrialization allowed for the making of relatively affordable objects for a growing consumer culture, including children. The act of saving money, instilled from a young age, went hand in hand with this culture of consumption. This simple, charming object reminds us that even the humblest of things have complex stories to tell about production, labor, and the wider culture in which it was made.