-City Bank with Director's Room on Top- still bank c. 1902

This cast iron still bank, shaped like a "City Bank with Director's Room on Top," was produced by John Harper & Company, Ltd., a firm that operated over two centuries. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these types of banks were common household objects, reflecting a growing emphasis on saving and financial institutions. However, consider the cultural narratives they subtly reinforced. Banks, often perceived as bastions of wealth, power, and the patriarchy, were rarely accessible to women or minorities. This bank, therefore, while seemingly innocuous, also represents a system of economic and social disparities. Who was encouraged to save, and who was systemically excluded? While functioning as children’s toys, these banks normalized the white, male, and upper-class figures who historically held power within these institutions. They speak to the emotional dimensions of aspiration, access, and exclusion. It is a powerful reminder of how everyday objects can reflect and shape societal values and inequalities.