Cabinet still bank c. 1890

This intriguing Cabinet still bank, of unknown date, was made by an anonymous artist. The "still bank" speaks volumes about the economic landscape of its time, reflecting values of thrift and security. It emerged within a culture grappling with rapid industrialization and urbanization; anxieties about financial stability were widespread, especially among the working class. Who made it, and who used it? The bank would have been used to teach children the virtues of saving. What gendered lessons did it teach? Consider the implications of saving in a society marked by deep divisions of wealth and opportunity. It may also have been used to enforce particular societal values or ways of living. Despite its small size, this cabinet carries a complex narrative about identity, aspiration, and the elusive promise of financial security.