House still bank c. early 20th century

This small, anonymous house still bank invites us to consider the intersections of domesticity, labor, and identity in early American life. Constructed from painted wood, this object served a practical purpose, encouraging thrift, whilst also representing a potent symbol: the home. In the 19th century, owning a home represented stability, respectability, and belonging, yet these ideals were often unattainable for marginalized communities. For women, people of color, and immigrants, the promise of the American dream, symbolized by owning a home, was fraught with systemic barriers. Consider this bank as more than a simple object. It embodies the complex relationship between aspiration and access, revealing how the very notion of "home" can be both a comforting ideal and a reminder of social and economic disparities.