-Elephant with Howdah c. 1900

This is a cast iron 'Elephant with Howdah' coin bank, made by Charles F. Olm Senior. The elephant form, including the decorative howdah on its back, would have been produced through a process of pouring molten iron into a mold. Molten iron, a material produced through the intensive labor of mining and smelting, emphasizes industrial production. The intricate detailing on the elephant, despite the material's inherent density, reflects skilled craftsmanship. The paint on the elephant, now chipped and worn, would have originally given the object a lively, appealing quality to attract the eye of a child and encourage saving. But beyond its aesthetic appearance, the very form of the bank—an exotic animal— speaks to global trade and cultural exchange. As a 'novelty bank' it offered not just a place to store coins, but also a lesson in aspirational economics and a worldview centered on consumption. It challenges us to consider how even everyday objects carry complex cultural and economic meanings.