-Junior Cash Register c. 1920s

E. Stevens made this “Junior Cash Register” of cast metal, at some point, we aren’t sure when. The surface of this thing, it’s a real garden of ornament and texture, isn't it? All those tiny details, like they're blooming all over the metal. I get a kick out of how Stevens layers pattern upon pattern, that super dense floral relief, like the whole thing is about to burst into bloom. It reminds me of folk art I've seen, where every inch is covered with attention and care. And that color! That silvery gray, almost like it's been kissed by time. I find myself zeroing in on the word “cash”, worked into the lower drawer. It’s a little distorted, like everything in this piece has been softened and worn. The keyhole is right in the middle, another reminder that this is a container. Looking at this piece makes me think of Joseph Cornell, who also made boxes full of dreams and found objects, or even Haim Steinbach with his readymade objects. Art is like a conversation, stretching across time.