-Atlas Bank- mechanical bank c. 1880

This mechanical bank, attributed to North Brothers, is made from cast iron. The figure of Atlas struggles under the weight of the world, an earthly globe. The bank's base is decorated to resemble a building’s façade, giving the impression of classical architecture. The overall texture is rough, reflecting its industrial manufacture. The weight of the iron also gives it a feeling of substance. Banks like this were meant to teach children the value of saving. You placed a coin into Atlas’s hands, then pulled the lever to deposit the money in the base, as Atlas throws the globe. The manufacturing process is critical here. The bank emerged from a context of industrial labor, mass production, and a rising middle class, who are encouraged to see saving as a moral imperative. Considering the materials, making, and context enriches our understanding of the bank's function, challenging conventional distinctions between art, craft, and commodity.