-Champion Cash Register- still bank c. early 20th century

This "Champion Cash Register" still bank, now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, pops with the spirit of commerce and play. It makes me wonder about the anonymous artist who made this and the world they lived in. I can almost feel the artist’s hand carefully painting the gold lettering and delicate swirls against the black. The metallic material itself has a slight sheen to it. It is thin and the painting on the surface is precise and detailed. I can imagine the anonymous painter’s mind at work, trying to capture the real-world object, yet also giving it a touch of the fantastical and playful with the gold details. Maybe they had a child in mind, imagining how little hands would operate this toy. This piece feels like a conversation with folk art traditions, where functionality meets aesthetic charm. It reminds me that as artists, we're always building on what's come before.