Civil War Soldier & Tree Trunk Bank c. 1937

This watercolor painting, "Civil War Soldier & Tree Trunk Bank," created by William O. Fletcher in 1937, depicts a cast iron toy bank. Two soldiers, dressed in the uniform of a Union soldier, are depicted aiming their rifles at a tree trunk bank. The painting, a detailed representation of the toy, was likely made as an advertising illustration, with the artist’s signature clearly visible on the lower right of the artwork. This piece provides insight into the popularity of cast iron toys and the interest in American Civil War history during the 1930s.