-Bird on Roof- mechanical bank c. 1878

Curator: This engaging piece is entitled "-Bird on Roof- mechanical bank." Dating to around 1878, this charming sculpture of metal and found objects comes to us from Elisha Stevens. Editor: It's lovely, isn't it? But also slightly melancholic. The dark metal gives it a somewhat gothic air, like a tiny, abandoned church crowned with a watchful bird. Curator: Indeed. Mechanical banks such as this one were popular in the late 19th century. Their production reflects a changing economy, a surge in manufacturing, and also points toward Victorian attitudes on domestic life, particularly encouraging children to save. Editor: A fascinating interplay of function and symbolism! Consider the child depositing their coin and activating the mechanism. This instills the virtue of saving and perpetuates economic structures, all through the lens of play. And, is that a bird, traditionally a symbol of freedom, perched on top? I wonder what the juxtaposition symbolizes. Curator: That’s a keen observation. One could argue the bank, adorned with gothic details that perhaps echo a church and topped with a bird, merges ideals of civic duty with perhaps moral expectations and a celebration of industry. Banks became powerful social actors in communities and I see the sculpture echoing the influence that they held over families. Editor: It brings up questions about access, too. Who could afford these banks? Who was taught to save? It encourages looking at the Victorian era’s socio-economic hierarchy through the simple everyday object of a child's toy. It makes you consider those not reflected within this paradigm of aspirational bourgeois virtue. Curator: Precisely. Objects like this help us see that social and political landscape. This unassuming metal bank actually held social power. Editor: Exactly. And that's what makes even the simplest art pieces—like this wonderfully gothic mechanical bank—such insightful touchstones for broader conversations. They whisper secrets about a society's dreams and inequalities. Curator: It certainly gives one much to think about, considering its multiple purposes: playful entertainment for the young, subtle advertisement, and purveyor of capitalist ambition. Editor: It’s far more profound than just mere metalwork.