-Hoop-La Bank- mechanical bank c. 1897 - 1929

This cast iron mechanical bank of a clown and dog was made by John Harper & Company, Ltd, sometime between 1790 and 1980. The joyful colour palette and comical scene seems like pure optimism, but there's also something a little off about it. The clown's fixed grin, the dog’s forced jump – perhaps they reflect the anxieties around money that we still feel today. I imagine the makers carefully crafting each piece, experimenting with different molds and colours, trying to find the perfect balance of whimsy and functionality. Did they ever think about the messages they were sending about wealth and play? Did they consider the tension between having fun and saving for a rainy day? But the beauty of art – even in something as functional as a bank – is that it invites us to ask questions, to see the world in new ways, and to challenge our own assumptions.