-Monkey and Parrot- mechanical bank c. 1930 - 1936

This charming mechanical bank, attributed to Saalheimer & Strauss and made between 1928 and 1936, presents us with the whimsical pairing of a monkey and a parrot. Here, we find archetypes rich in cultural symbolism. The monkey, often a symbol of imitation and trickery, contrasts with the parrot, a creature associated with mimicry and exotic lands. Notice how the monkey is about to place a coin in the cup that the parrot is holding. The parrot, perched above, seems to observe with knowing eyes. We might recall similar pairings of animals in Renaissance allegories, where they symbolize the baser instincts of humanity versus higher aspirations. These motifs recur across cultures, evolving in meaning yet retaining their primal connection to our subconscious understanding of the world. This engaging piece reminds us that even in play, we grapple with age-old questions of behavior and aspiration, mirroring our deepest selves in the simplest of images.