-Grumpy Gus- still bank c. 1900

This glazed stoneware object called "Grumpy Gus" serves as a still bank, and was made by an anonymous artist. The popularity of this comical figure raises questions about the social conditions of its time. The image of a grumpy character converted into a bank could reflect a growing awareness of economic hardship or anxieties around financial instability. It invites us to consider the cultural values surrounding money and saving, especially in relation to childhood. To better understand the cultural significance of this object, one could research the history of still banks, children's literature, and popular entertainment, as well as economic data from the period.