-Chimney Savings Bank- still bank c. 20th century

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this charming artifact from roughly the 20th century: "-Chimney Savings Bank- still bank". What is your initial impression? Editor: It feels distinctly…utilitarian. Like someone decided that saving money could be both civic duty and playfully architectural, all in one easily manufactured package. It almost looks like a graphic from a vintage advertisement. Curator: The chimney form evokes hearth and home, and safety, and these concepts became closely aligned with the values instilled with the development of local banking institutions. Blue lettering declares “Chimney Savings Bank”. A little set of decorative flourishes reminiscent of mustaches or stylized brickwork separates this name from the inscription “Made in USA”. What do these visual choices convey to you? Editor: I’m particularly struck by the material qualities. The coldness of the metal combined with the image of a brick chimney on paper speaks volumes about the manufacturing process. It reminds us of mass production during the pop art era, even though it isn’t strictly a pop artwork itself, it makes use of photographic processes typical of that art movement. There’s an emphasis on accessible production, creating an affordable means for citizens to deposit their pennies. Curator: The chimney also plays on notions of the home as a refuge but suggests its function also extended as a repository of value – quite literally a symbol of domesticity, commerce, and upward mobility combined. This reinforces the values attached to the institution of “Savings Bank,” a bank conceived of, first and foremost, as the holder of individual wealth rather than as the generator of capital. The semiotic message is powerfully embedded into the cultural landscape of the time. Editor: I think it is interesting how it collapses form and function. This bank encourages savings habits and also reveals social attitudes towards industrial production in that period. We see something almost honest and open about this object’s purpose and creation – less emphasis on artifice, more on clear message and ready consumption. Curator: Indeed. A fascinating lens through which to examine cultural history! Editor: Agreed. A powerful blend of icon and industrial object!