-William Tell- mechanical bank c. 1896

Editor: So this is a William Tell mechanical bank from around 1896, made with mixed media and metal. It’s really fascinating...sort of a darkly humorous take on a classic story. What symbolic weight do you see in a piece like this? Curator: The symbolism here is fascinating. Mechanical banks like this served a dual purpose, right? They taught children the value of saving, but also reinforced cultural narratives. The William Tell story, even in the late 19th century, was loaded: freedom, rebellion against tyranny, and the paternal duty to protect one's children, but also... the inherent violence necessary to achieve those things. How do you read Tell's stance, his gesture here? Editor: I see a poised figure ready to take aim with the bow, a test of bravery for both father and son as they defy authority. It really resonates through time, doesn't it? Curator: Absolutely. The repetition of this narrative speaks to our ongoing fascination with acts of rebellion against perceived injustice. And the designers were shrewd; packaging it as entertainment – and a lesson in thrift – is fascinating, wouldn’t you say? Are we complicit? Editor: You mean in perpetuating potentially harmful symbols? Maybe…It certainly makes you think about how stories and their symbols affect people. What is learned when one deposits the coin to complete the performance? Curator: Precisely! Each deposit, each successful "shot," reinforces the symbolic power of the narrative. So, on one hand we're participating in a story of defiance; on the other, the mechanical action itself could normalize the depiction of precision violence against a familial actor as normalized, or celebrated, through routine actions. Are there cultural resonances here that trouble you? Editor: Well, I hadn't thought about it that way… seeing the layering of cultural ideals with a seemingly simple coin bank. Curator: It's a powerful object, really. Even this object is still echoing across history to make a powerful claim, about us! It gives insight into a society and how stories shape it.