-Des Moines Building-Loan and Savings- still bank c. 1940s

Curator: Well, hello there! What a curious thing we have here, a miniature skyscraper cast in metal. Editor: It does give off a particular aura, almost imposing, despite its obviously diminutive scale. It has a strong sense of nostalgia; maybe that's just me? Curator: Perhaps, though it hits a sentimental chord for me as well! This piece, circa the 1940s, goes by the catchy title of "-Des Moines Building-Loan and Savings- still bank" and was crafted by Banthrico, Inc. Cleverly modeled, it serves a double function—architecture and utility. Editor: Beyond pure functionality, it operates almost as propaganda, don’t you think? These 'still banks,' were meant to reinforce values around saving and homeownership. Banks as architectural icons, miniature capitalist monuments… the subtext is fascinating! Curator: A tangible symbol, certainly! I imagine a child carefully depositing their pennies, dreaming of a brighter, more secure future embodied by the structure. The weight of the metal itself adds to that sense of solidity. Editor: And that solidity masks a certain vulnerability, I think. The Depression loomed large in the American psyche during this era. Promoting thrift was, perhaps, also about assuaging anxiety and a sense of insecurity. The sculpture itself becomes a reassurance, a symbol of aspiration during uncertain times. Curator: That makes sense, placing it within the historical narrative! What gets me is the artist’s devotion to the structure. The craftsmanship really conveys the feeling that someone lovingly considered the building. There’s poetry in this scaled-down tribute, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely! These objects operate at so many interesting intersections—architecture, finance, even child psychology. Thinking about how something so commonplace encodes the power dynamics is especially resonant today, wouldn’t you say? Curator: Oh yes! It’s been so enlightening. Next time I drop change into something, I’ll really be pondering! Editor: It certainly makes you wonder whose pockets this bank has been lining over the decades and to whose advantage, really. An object lesson if I've ever seen one!