-Top Hat- still bank c. early 20th century

This -Top Hat- still bank was made anonymously, and it's so interesting to think about how something so functional can become a work of art. The color is really striking here; it's all in shades of black, but it's far from flat. I see areas where the paint is worn away, revealing the metal underneath, and that bit of shine really catches the eye. You can tell this object has been used, has a history. When I look at the top, I can imagine a child carefully inserting coins, one by one. I wonder how many coins it could hold! It reminds me a bit of the work of Joseph Cornell, who made these amazing shadow boxes filled with found objects. Like Cornell, this anonymous artist has transformed something ordinary into something extraordinary. I think that's what art is all about: seeing the world in a new way and finding beauty in unexpected places.