Pear still bank c. 1860

This small, anonymous pear, made of glazed earthenware, presents us with a curious combination of nature and culture. On the one hand, it mimics the organic form of a pear, a common fruit, offering a slice of the natural world. On the other hand, it is clearly artificial. The visual codes here are interesting: the red and yellow glaze references the natural colors of a pear, but the stylized application and the slot at the top transform the object into something else. This is not just a pear; it is a bank, a container for coins. The transformation of a natural form into a receptacle for money speaks volumes about the relationship between nature and commerce. It suggests a cultural impulse to tame nature, turning it into a vessel for economic activity. To understand this impulse, we might turn to studies of popular culture, economic history, and the history of collecting. What can the history of childhood teach us about saving? What role did banks play in the social and financial structures of the time? Through this sort of research, we can come to understand the social role of art.