-Red Goose Shoes- still bank c. 1920s

Editor: This intriguing object is called '-Red Goose Shoes- still bank' from the 1920s, made by Arcade Manufacturing Company. It seems to be an assemblage of metal and possibly ceramic, in the form of a goose. I’m struck by the texture and the way the red paint seems to emphasize the curves of the goose’s body. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, immediately I notice the power of branding – how an image, in this case a goose linked with shoes, becomes a potent symbol. Consider the deeper implications of a "still bank." What does it represent? More than a mere container for coins, it embodies aspirations, a cultural drive towards saving, a hope for future security reflected in an emblem of childhood and advertising. Editor: That's fascinating! The goose itself, painted a vibrant, almost assertive red… Is there something to be read in that, too? Curator: Absolutely! Red is loaded with symbolism. It can mean passion, danger, prosperity, revolution! And placing that colour on the goose… it would catch a child’s eye and their parent's. But what sort of psychological impact did these figures of commerce and domestic life imprint on people? What lasting echoes do these commercial images generate within society? Editor: So, it’s not just about shoes, but about something bigger – about our relationship with commerce. Thank you! This puts so much in perspective for me. Curator: Indeed. Consider this bank a sort of modern icon: an object mediating commercial and cultural meanings. Hopefully, it leaves listeners questioning what seemingly simple images reveal about cultural memory.