-Fidelity Trust Vault with Little Lord Fauntleroy- still bank 1890

This cast iron still bank, dating back to the late 19th century, takes the form of a miniature vault, complete with decorative motifs and a comical dog figure, Little Lord Fauntleroy. This canine, with its noble bearing, invites reflection on the humanization of animals and the cultural projection of virtues. The motif of an animal guarding a space, or acting as a symbolic sentinel, is an ancient one. Think of Cerberus, the multi-headed dog guarding the gates of the Underworld in Greek mythology; or the lion statues found guarding temples and palaces across Asia. These images tap into a primal psychology, representing protection, loyalty, and even the untamed forces of nature tamed for human purposes. Here, the dog is domesticated, a symbol of fidelity, placed as a guardian of savings. Consider how the image of the dog has reappeared throughout history, shifting from a symbol of wildness to one of companionship, reflecting our own evolving relationship with nature and our subconscious desires for order and security. This bank, therefore, is not just a container for coins, but a repository of cultural memory.