-Pistol- mechanical bank c. 1909

This -Pistol- mechanical bank was made by James Hall Bevington at an unknown date and with unknown materials. It’s wild to consider this object in terms of process, because it’s so clearly made to facilitate a process, the process of saving money, but I wonder what Bevington’s process was, how he got to this final form. The texture of the gun, especially on the handle, is incredible. All of those tiny diamonds are so inviting to touch, even though the metal feels cold and hard. There's something about the way the light catches on those small facets, and the metallic sheen overall, that makes me think of Jasper Johns' painted bronzes, even though this is a different kind of object entirely. That inscription "PATD" on the gun is interesting, maybe the idea of art as something which must be patented feels wrong somehow. Ultimately this small object is an amazing example of art, design, and commerce all rolled into one.