-Liberty Bell- still bank c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have a glass still bank, shaped like the Liberty Bell, dating to around the 20th century, artist unknown. I'm immediately struck by how quaint it is – the clear glass, the simple red, white, and blue bands... It feels like a miniature monument to American ideals, but made for pocket change. What do you see in it? Curator: It rings a bell of nostalgia for me, pun intended! It reminds me of childhood summers, saving up for something special. Beyond that, though, this piece speaks volumes about consumerism and patriotism intertwined. Consider the era: the 20th century saw mass production boom. The Liberty Bell, a powerful symbol, becomes a commodity, a vessel for saving, literally and figuratively, for the American dream. What does liberty *mean*, when it can be bought and sold, little by little, one coin at a time? Editor: So, the act of saving becomes almost a patriotic duty? A way of investing in the nation's promise? Curator: Precisely! Or at least, that’s the suggestion. And it's all encased in glass, transparent and fragile. Is the American dream equally so? It's a beautiful object with an intriguing message. I find the inscription ‘Pass and Stow’ rather amusing. It feels as if liberty is something that has to be carefully looked after, even as the commercial potential has already been established. Don't you think so? Editor: Definitely! That interplay of ideals and practicality... I'll be thinking about this bell – and what it represents – for a while. Curator: Me too. It’s a reminder that even the simplest objects can hold complex stories about who we are and what we value.